A prosecution witness allege that Ayan Osman shot a protester during the July Uprising in Narayanganj and recounted separate attacks allegedly led by Shamim Osman and his associates.
The International Crimes Tribunal, located in the old High Court building, Dhaka. File photo: Collected
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The International Crimes Tribunal, located in the old High Court building, Dhaka. File photo: Collected
Ayan Osman, son of former Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman, shot a protester standing beside him during the July Uprising in Narayanganj, a prosecution witness told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 today (28 July).
Testifying before the tribunal, witness NRB Mamun said protesters were chased by Awami League supporters in the Chashara area on the afternoon of 5 August 2024 and took shelter in an alley near a private hospital.
He alleged that Ayan Osman then opened fire, hitting a protester named Swajon, who was standing beside him.
“Swajon was standing next to me when Ayan Osman shot him,” Mamun told the tribunal.
According to his testimony, Swajon succumbed to his injuries at a hospital the following day, on 6 August.
Mamun, a tour and travel operator by profession, demanded justice for those responsible for Swajon’s death.
Former lawmaker Shamim Osman and his son Ayan Osman are among the 12 accused in the crimes against humanity case. The other named accused include Azmery Osman, Md Minhaj Uddin Ahammad and Tanvir Ahammad. All of the accused are currently absconding.
In his testimony, Mamun also described an earlier incident during the July Uprising. He said that on the morning of 21 July 2024, while leading a procession from Signboard towards Chittagong Road, protesters gathered outside a hospital.
According to Mamun, a group of around 150 people, including Shamim Osman, Shah Nizam, Faizul Islam and Commissioner Ruhul, launched a sudden attack from a nearby alley armed with locally made and foreign firearms.
While fleeing the attack, Mamun said he fell into the DND canal and broke one of his teeth.
The prosecution has brought three specific charges against the accused in the case.
According to the first charge, the accused allegedly killed Md Parvez, teenager Adil, Md Yasin, Abul Hossain, Md Russel Rana and six-year-old Riya Gope, along with numerous other protesters, in Narayanganj on 19 July 2024.
The second charge alleges that on 21 July 2024, the accused killed Abdur Rahman and Rakib Bepari and seriously injured many other demonstrators.
According to the third charge, on 5 August 2024, two men – Badiuzzaman and Abul Hasan – were killed and numerous protesters injured in Narayanganj.
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