Monday, 17 November, 2025
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, once a prime suspect in the July Uprising crackdown, has become a state witness, revealing that he received direct orders from the highest echelons of power to suppress the protests “at any cost.”
Speaking before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Mamun gave a candid account of the brutal operations that left scores dead and thousands injured, exposing the chain of command behind one of Bangladesh’s bloodiest political upheavals.
The landmark trial, which also names ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, is set for verdict on Monday. Of the three accused, only Mamun remains in custody; Hasina and Asaduzzaman are being tried in absentia. The charges include five counts of genocide and crimes against humanity.
How Mamun Became a State Witness
On 10 July, ICT-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, held a hearing to frame charges. Lawyers representing Hasina and Asaduzzaman applied for exemption, while Mamun admitted guilt and applied to become a state witness.
The tribunal read out the charges to him, and he acknowledged his responsibility, agreeing to assist by providing full information on the crimes. The request was approved, and, for security reasons, he was placed in a separate detention area.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam explained: “Hasina and Asaduzzaman are fugitives. Mamun admitted his guilt and requested to assist the court in revealing all information about the crimes. He will be treated as a witness, legally termed an ‘approver.’”
Recounting the Crackdown
Mamun first testified on 13 November 2024 at Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, with formal charges framed on 12 July 2025. His tribunal testimony followed on 3 September 2025.
He recounted that on 18 July 2024, then-Home Minister Asaduzzaman instructed him to use lethal force against protesters on direct orders from Hasina. The directive, relayed across the country, triggered the use of deadly force from that day onward.
Mamun described how then-DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman and additional commissioner Harunor Rashid were “particularly eager” to implement lethal measures. He further claimed that Hasina was encouraged by senior political figures, including Obaidul Quader, Anisul Huq, Salman F Rahman, and others, to employ force.
Helicopters and drones were deployed to enforce block raids and suppress protests, which were divided into zones based on intensity. Mamun also revealed that “pro-government intellectuals, journalists, cultural figures, and business leaders encouraged the crackdown.”
Core Committee Meetings and Coordinated Operations
From 19 July onwards, Mamun said nightly “Core Committee” meetings were held at Asaduzzaman’s residence to direct the suppression, including the arrest of student movement coordinators. Initially opposing a DGFI proposal to detain them, Mamun ultimately complied under ministerial orders. Relatives were pressured at DB offices, forcing the coordinators to withdraw the movement on television.
He detailed meetings at Ganabhaban on 4–5 August 2024, chaired by Hasina and attended by senior ministers, military chiefs, RAB, DGFI, and NSI officials, to coordinate suppression efforts, including halting the “March to Dhaka.”
Mamun said he witnessed the use of excessive force and atrocities, including killings and the burning of bodies after the operations. He expressed remorse:
“As head of police, I feel shame and penitence. I decided to become a state witness out of guilt for the atrocities committed during the July Uprising. I ask forgiveness from victims’ families, the injured, the nation, and the tribunal.”
“As head of police, I feel shame and penitence. I decided to become a state witness out of guilt for the atrocities committed during the July Uprising. I ask forgiveness from victims’ families, the injured, the nation, and the tribunal.”
The Role of a State Witness
A state witness, or “Rajsakkhi,” is someone directly or indirectly involved in a crime who provides full, truthful disclosure in exchange for possible pardon. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, Evidence Act, and Police Regulations of Bangladesh, such witnesses must disclose all principal offenders and accomplices. Even if pardoned, the witness remains in custody until the trial concludes.
Supreme Court lawyer AKM Shamshad explained: “A state witness reveals internal, secret details of the crime. Their testimony is carefully assessed, and special security is often required for high-profile cases.”
Will Mamun Be Pardoned?
Prosecution seeks the death penalty for Hasina and Asaduzzaman. Tajul Islam confirmed that the tribunal will decide Mamun’s status based on whether he has fully disclosed the truth.
Mamun’s testimony has cast unprecedented light on the planning, execution, and responsibility for the July Uprising crackdown, marking a historic moment in Bangladesh’s political and judicial history.
Comments
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, once a prime suspect in the July Uprising crackdown, has become a state witness, revealing that he received direct orders from the highest echelons of power to suppress the protests “at any cost.”
Speaking before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Mamun gave a candid account of the brutal operations that left scores dead and thousands injured, exposing the chain of command behind one of Bangladesh’s bloodiest political upheavals.
The landmark trial, which also names ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, is set for verdict on Monday. Of the three accused, only Mamun remains in custody; Hasina and Asaduzzaman are being tried in absentia. The charges include five counts of genocide and crimes against humanity.
How Mamun Became a State Witness
On 10 July, ICT-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, held a hearing to frame charges. Lawyers representing Hasina and Asaduzzaman applied for exemption, while Mamun admitted guilt and applied to become a state witness.
The tribunal read out the charges to him, and he acknowledged his responsibility, agreeing to assist by providing full information on the crimes. The request was approved, and, for security reasons, he was placed in a separate detention area.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam explained: “Hasina and Asaduzzaman are fugitives. Mamun admitted his guilt and requested to assist the court in revealing all information about the crimes. He will be treated as a witness, legally termed an ‘approver.’”
Recounting the Crackdown
Mamun first testified on 13 November 2024 at Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, with formal charges framed on 12 July 2025. His tribunal testimony followed on 3 September 2025.
He recounted that on 18 July 2024, then-Home Minister Asaduzzaman instructed him to use lethal force against protesters on direct orders from Hasina. The directive, relayed across the country, triggered the use of deadly force from that day onward.
Mamun described how then-DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman and additional commissioner Harunor Rashid were “particularly eager” to implement lethal measures. He further claimed that Hasina was encouraged by senior political figures, including Obaidul Quader, Anisul Huq, Salman F Rahman, and others, to employ force.
Helicopters and drones were deployed to enforce block raids and suppress protests, which were divided into zones based on intensity. Mamun also revealed that “pro-government intellectuals, journalists, cultural figures, and business leaders encouraged the crackdown.”
Core Committee Meetings and Coordinated Operations
From 19 July onwards, Mamun said nightly “Core Committee” meetings were held at Asaduzzaman’s residence to direct the suppression, including the arrest of student movement coordinators. Initially opposing a DGFI proposal to detain them, Mamun ultimately complied under ministerial orders. Relatives were pressured at DB offices, forcing the coordinators to withdraw the movement on television.
He detailed meetings at Ganabhaban on 4–5 August 2024, chaired by Hasina and attended by senior ministers, military chiefs, RAB, DGFI, and NSI officials, to coordinate suppression efforts, including halting the “March to Dhaka.”
Mamun said he witnessed the use of excessive force and atrocities, including killings and the burning of bodies after the operations. He expressed remorse:
“As head of police, I feel shame and penitence. I decided to become a state witness out of guilt for the atrocities committed during the July Uprising. I ask forgiveness from victims’ families, the injured, the nation, and the tribunal.”
“As head of police, I feel shame and penitence. I decided to become a state witness out of guilt for the atrocities committed during the July Uprising. I ask forgiveness from victims’ families, the injured, the nation, and the tribunal.”
The Role of a State Witness
A state witness, or “Rajsakkhi,” is someone directly or indirectly involved in a crime who provides full, truthful disclosure in exchange for possible pardon. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, Evidence Act, and Police Regulations of Bangladesh, such witnesses must disclose all principal offenders and accomplices. Even if pardoned, the witness remains in custody until the trial concludes.
Supreme Court lawyer AKM Shamshad explained: “A state witness reveals internal, secret details of the crime. Their testimony is carefully assessed, and special security is often required for high-profile cases.”
Will Mamun Be Pardoned?
Prosecution seeks the death penalty for Hasina and Asaduzzaman. Tajul Islam confirmed that the tribunal will decide Mamun’s status based on whether he has fully disclosed the truth.
Mamun’s testimony has cast unprecedented light on the planning, execution, and responsibility for the July Uprising crackdown, marking a historic moment in Bangladesh’s political and judicial history.
Comments
