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International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam today described the testimony of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun in a crimes against humanity case as irrefutable evidence of Sheikh Hasina's misrule.
Mamun, who turned approver in the case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, over atrocities committed during the July Mass Uprising, testified on September 2, pleading guilty and seeking mercy for his role.
Testifying before ICT-1, Mamun said the killings and other brutal acts during the uprising were carried out on the instructions of Sheikh Hasina and Kamal.
"On July 18, 2024, the then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal called and informed me that Sheikh Hasina had directly ordered the use of lethal weapons to suppress the uprising," Mamun said.
The former IGP added that he was at the Police Headquarters at the time, with then Additional DIG Proloy Kumar Joarder present. The order to use lethal weapons was later conveyed across the country, including to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, by Proloy Kumar. From that day, the use of deadly weapons began.
"Former DMP Commissioner Habibur and former DMP Additional Commissioner Mohammad Harun or Rashid were very eager about using these weapons. Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal had instructed that the uprising be suppressed at any cost. Sheikh Hasina was allegedly encouraged to use lethal weapons by Obaidul Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Anisul Huq, Salman F. Rahman, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haq Inu, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mirza Azam, Fazle Noor Taposh and Mohammad Ali Arafat," he said.
On the "core committee meetings", Mamun stated that from July 19, 2024, nearly every night, the then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan held meetings at his Dhanmondi residence. During these meetings, government directives-including strategies to suppress the uprising-were issued.
In one meeting, it was decided to arrest the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The proposal was made by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), and Mamun said he initially opposed it but later agreed under the Home Minister's instructions. The responsibility for the arrests was given to the then DB chief Harun. Following the decision, DGFI and DB carried out the arrests and brought the coordinators into DB custody.
While in custody, the coordinators were pressured to compromise with the government regarding the movement, and their family members were also brought to DB to increase pressure. Eventually, the coordinators were forced to withdraw the movement and issue televised statements.
Regarding August 5, 2024, Mamun said that on the morning of that day, he went to his office at the Police Headquarters as large numbers of students and citizens began entering through various routes, including Uttara and Jatrabari. Between 12:00 and 1:00 pm, he learned that the Prime Minister would relinquish power, though her destination was unknown.
Later that afternoon, an army helicopter took him first to the Tejgaon Airport helipad and then to the Officers' Mess in the cantonment. Onboard were Special Branch (SB) Chief Monirul Islam, former DMP Commissioner Habib, DIG Amena, and later Additional DIG Proloy, Additional IGP Lutful Kabir, and others.
On August 6, his appointment as IGP was cancelled, and while staying in the cantonment, he was arrested on September 3, Mamun said.
He sought forgiveness from the families of the martyrs, the injured, the people of the country, and the ICT for his involvement.
"If my sincere and complete testimony can help bring out the truth and if Allah grants me more life, I will spend the rest of my days with at least some relief from the burden of guilt," Mamun told the tribunal.
Mamun, who served 36 and a half years in the police force, said policing is a "tricky job" that often draws public complaints. He claimed that throughout his career no allegations were ever brought against him and that he carried out his duties with humanity and integrity.
"Yet, at the end of my career, such a grave mass killing took place during my tenure. I accept responsibility for that," the former police chief said.