In a significant development in the ongoing trial surrounding the July mass uprising, former Shahbagh Police Station inspector Md Arshad Hossain has testified as a defence witness in a case concerning alleged crimes against humanity in Dhaka’s Chan Kharpul area. His statement, recorded on Monday, marks the first defence testimony presented since the tribunal began hearing cases related to last year’s turmoil.
The testimony was delivered before the International Crimes Tribunal’s three-member bench chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumdar. Justices Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury completed the panel overseeing the proceedings. The case centres on the killing of six individuals on 5 August last year during violent confrontations amid the mass protests sweeping the capital.
Eight individuals, including former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, were charged in connection with the incident. Four of the accused—including Rahman—remain fugitives, while Arshad and three others have been detained. Arshad is one of three defence witnesses intended to testify on behalf of the accused, and his statement served as the opening testimony for the defence.
In his address to the tribunal, Arshad vehemently denied any involvement in the fatal violence. He stressed that he carried no firearm, discharged no weapon, and issued no instructions for forceful action on the day of the incident. Furthermore, he denied aiding or encouraging any shooting, arguing that he executed his policing duties within the boundaries of the law.
A widely circulated social media image from 31 July had cast suspicion on Arshad. The photograph appeared to show him covering the mouth of student activist Nahidul Islam during a demonstration of the anti-discrimination student movement at New Model Degree College. The image, which attracted extensive public scrutiny, became a key piece of content used to question his conduct. Responding to this, Arshad told the tribunal that many of the videos and images shared online were “edited, cut, and taken out of context,” suggesting that they misrepresented his actions and intentions.
The defence’s second witness, Md Solaiman—linked to Islami Chhatra Andolan—supported Arshad’s narrative. According to Solaiman, he saw the inspector near Dhaka Medical College Hospital at around 11:30 am on 5 August. He recalled that Arshad was holding a walkie-talkie and did not appear to be participating in any violence, reinforcing the defence’s claim that he was not directly engaged in the clashes.
The trial, part of several proceedings emerging from the July uprising, has captured significant national attention. The events of last year resulted in widespread unrest, political upheaval, and growing demands for accountability. As the tribunal continues to examine testimonies and evidence, both prosecution and defence are preparing for intense legal debate on the responsibility of state officials during moments of civil crisis.
The tribunal will resume hearings as additional defence witnesses present their accounts. The eventual verdict is expected to carry major implications for the broader inquiry into the July uprising and the future of similar cases under review.