Tribunal orders police protection for witness in Anisul, Salman case

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has directed the relevant police station to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of a witness who alleged receiving threats and facing suspicious activities near his home.

The witness, SM Sayem, testified in a crimes against humanity case against former law minister Anisul Huq and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's adviser Salman F Rahman over alleged crimes committed during the July 2024 uprising.

Sayem raised concerns about his safety before the tribunal on Sunday. Following his account, prosecutors submitted a written application seeking protection for him. The tribunal then directed the relevant police station to take necessary steps.

Sayem told the tribunal that he lived in Mirpur-2 and that a man had recently hurled abusive language at him in front of his home. He also said unfamiliar people had been seen loitering outside his residence on motorcycles, raising concerns about their movements.

He further alleged that two crude bombs, locally known as cocktails, had been thrown at him near the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases. One landed very close to him and the other about 10 feet away. The attackers fled on a motorcycle after the explosions, he said.

Sayem also told the tribunal that people had visited his home to make enquiries about him and that he had received abusive phone calls from abroad.

Expressing concern over his safety, the tribunal said responsibility for upholding the law rested with everyone, not just the government.

Defence lawyer Mansurul Haque Chowdhury said his clients were in prison and questioned why Sayem had raised security concerns only after completing his testimony and cross-examination.

After a recess, the tribunal resumed proceedings at 2:30 PM. Prosecutors then submitted a written application seeking protection for the witness. They said an instruction to the relevant police station would be sufficient for the time being.

Sayem is a postgraduate student in the University of Dhaka's Department of Marketing. He served as a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in the Mirpur area during the July 2024 uprising.

He testified as the 13th prosecution witness on November 3. In his testimony, he alleged that Anisul Huq and Salman F Rahman had roles in the imposition of a curfew during the crackdown on the movement.

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