Protester Shot in Face Testifies at Former Bangladeshi PM’s Trial

DHAKA: On Sunday, the trial of Bangladesh’s fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened with testimony from its first witness — a protester who suffered a gunshot wound to the face during the mass demonstrations that preceded her ouster last year.

International News-(Special Correspondent/Webdeesk): The first witness in the trial of Bangladesh’s fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina testified on Sunday — a young man who was shot in the face during last year’s protests that led to her removal from power.

Hasina, 77, is currently in India and has refused to return to face trial. She is being tried in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity, accused of ordering a deadly crackdown in an attempt to stop a student-led uprising.

According to the United Nations, around 1,400 people were killed during the protests between July and August 2024.

The first witness to take the stand was Khokon Chandra Barman, a 23-year-old protester. His testimony gave a grim picture of the violence. He now wears a mask to cover the severe injuries to his face caused by a gunshot on August 5, 2024 — the same day Hasina fled Dhaka by helicopter.

“I want justice for the suffering I’ve gone through, and for the fellow protesters who lost their lives,” Barman told the court.

He lost his left eye in the attack, while his right eye, lips, nose, and teeth were also badly damaged. A video showing his bloodied face was played in court. Opening statements were broadcast on state-run television.

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Hasina faces five charges, including failing to stop mass killings. These charges are considered crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law.

“Sheikh Hasina was the central figure behind the crimes committed during the July-August uprising,” said Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam in court.

Hasina is being tried alongside two others. One of them, former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, is also a fugitive. The other, former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, is in custody and has pleaded guilty.

Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman told reporters outside the court that the government wants a fair trial. “People were killed and injured. We demand the highest punishment for these crimes,” he said.

Hasina’s court-appointed lawyer, Amir Hossain, said that Barman was shot during chaotic clashes on the final day of the protests and it’s still unclear who fired the shot. He also noted that several police officers died during the violence.

Hossain added that he has had no contact with Hasina, who continues to reject the authority of the court.

The trial is ongoing.