In a poignant moment at the International Crimes Tribunal-1, a father emotionally described the tragic event of his son’s death during the July 2024 uprising in Mirpur-10. The courtroom fell silent as Kamal Hawlader shared how his 18-year-old son, Sifat Hawlader, was fatally shot by Awami League cadres and police while peacefully protesting with his classmates.
Accompanied by survivor Emran Hossain, the witnesses detailed the brutal attacks that occurred on July 19 and 20, blaming former law minister Anisul Huq and former prime minister’s adviser Salman F Rahman for the crimes against humanity. Kamal recounted the heartbreaking moment when he saw his son being shot in the head, leaving a gaping wound that he could feel with his fingers.
Despite his distress, Kamal managed to carry both his son and another injured boy to a nearby hospital, where Sifat was later pronounced dead. He faced further obstacles when local AL activists interfered with the funeral arrangements, forcing him to transport Sifat’s body to their village home in Kalkini for a proper burial.
Emran Hossain, another witness, shared his own harrowing experience of losing his right leg during the clashes at Mirpur-10. He described how he was caught in the crossfire between protesters and armed individuals, leading to a severe injury that required a lengthy hospital stay.
Both witnesses pointed fingers at senior AL leaders for orchestrating the violence, holding Anisul and Salman accountable for the tragic events. Following their testimonies, the defence counsels cross-examined the witnesses, and the tribunal scheduled the next hearing for March 3.