More than 95,000 rounds were fired in Dhaka alone and over 305,000 rounds across the country to suppress the July student–people’s uprising, according to testimony presented at the International Crimes Tribunal. On Monday (September 29), investigation officer Md. Alamgir revealed this while testifying in the case filed against Sheikh Hasina and her two top associates at Tribunal-1.
He stated that a 215-page report from the Police Headquarters showed the use of LMGs, SMGs, rifles, shotguns, revolvers, and pistols to quell the protests. In Dhaka, 95,313 rounds were fired, while nationwide the number reached 305,311 rounds.
The investigation officer said that evidence collected from documents, newspapers, videos, audio clips, books, expert opinions, witness accounts, and the confession of accused Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun indicated that then–Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, then–Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and then–IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun orchestrated crimes against humanity to suppress the July uprising, also known as “July 36.”
Between July 1 and August 5, 2024, more than 1,500 people were killed, thousands severely injured or maimed, and countless others arbitrarily detained, tortured, abducted, falsely implicated, and burned alive, according to the testimony. Families were denied bodies of victims, burials were conducted secretly under false identities, medical treatment and funeral prayers were obstructed, and sexual violence was carried out against female protesters.
The testimony laid bare the horrific scale of state repression and atrocities during the July people’s uprising.