In a packed courtroom in Dhaka, 23-year-old Khokon Chandra Barman faced the humanity trials in International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on August 3, 2025, his voice trembling but resolute. A microbus driver from Narayanganj, Barman recounted the horrific moment on July 19, 2024, when police gunfire in Jatrabari shattered his face, leaving him disfigured and fighting for justice. His testimony marks a pivotal moment in the trial against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her aides, accused of crimes against humanity during the violent suppression of the 2024 student-led protests.
Details from Humanity Trials
“I joined the movement for the first time on July 18,” Barman said, describing how he and others marched toward Chashara, only to be met with bullets from police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). “One was shot in the chest and died on the spot. Many were killed,” he added, his words heavy with grief. Barman’s injuries were so severe that he was shuffled between hospitals—Mugda Medical College, Dhaka Medical College, and Mirpur Dental Hospital—before spending a month in ICU at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Eventually, the government sent him to Russia for further treatment on February 21, 2025.
Live TV Broadcast
The trial, broadcast live on Bangladesh Television, has gripped the nation, with over 1,400 deaths reported during the July-August 2024 uprising that ended Hasina’s 15-year rule. Hasina, now in India, faces charges alongside former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. While Mamun, in custody, has turned state witness, Hasina and Kamal remain absconding, with the tribunal proceeding in their absence after they ignored summons to appear by June 24, 2025.
Barman’s testimony, raw and unfiltered, brought the courtroom to a hush. “I want justice for the ordeal I’ve been through and for my fellow protesters who sacrificed their lives,” he said, his face partially concealed by a mask to hide the scars. The prosecution, led by Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, aims to present more survivors and eyewitnesses, building a case that could lead to the death penalty for Hasina if convicted.
What’s Next
As Bangladesh approaches elections in February 2026, the trial stirs deep emotions, with families of victims demanding accountability. “Sheikh Hasina was the nucleus of all crimes,” Islam declared, echoing the pain of a nation seeking closure.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 4th, 2025
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