The trial against former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has begun on charges of genocide. Hasina is accused of ordering the killing of thousands of people while she was prime minister last year. Khokan Chandra Barman has been presented as the first witness in this case. If Barman’s testimony is effective, Hasina could be sentenced to death in this case. On Sunday, Khokan Chandra Barman appeared in court to give testimony, after which he was taken for the initial court proceedings. Sheikh Hasina, her then-Home Minister, and the then-IG of Police are accused in the genocide case. Khokan Chandra Barman, who belongs to the Hindu tribal community, was involved in the July movement. During this time, he was shot near the Jatrabari police station in Dhaka. The bullet hit Khokan’s face directly, disfiguring his face. However, Khokan did not die from the gunshot. After the coup against Sheikh Hasina, the interim government of Bangladesh went all out to save Khokan. The health advisor himself took Khokan to Russia. Khokan was treated there. Khokan is currently the most living and suffering witness of the Bangladesh movement. Khokan is a resident of Dhaka and is currently associated with Nahid Islam’s party. Khokan also receives a pension from the government for participating in the July movement. The Bangladesh government had borne the entire cost of his treatment. The Bangladesh government is also providing security to him. Khokan said in his testimony that how the police were shooting people right in front of him. Khokan vividly portrayed the deaths near the Jatrabari police station in court. According to a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, about 1400 people were killed in Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh. These included 108 children. More than 15 thousand people were injured. However, the interim government has not yet been able to confirm these figures. Due to the long-running movement, Sheikh Hasina had to leave power in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024.
