A young man who was shot multiple times during the July uprising in Dhaka's Rampura testified before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday, describing how police opened fire on him as he tried to save himself while hanging from the ledge of a building.

With the deposition of Amir Hossain, 18, as the first prosecution witness, the trial of the crimes against humanity case began against five former police officers, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman, over the killing of two people and the shooting of two others in Rampura last year.

The other accused are then DMP's (Khilgaon zone) Additional Deputy Commissioner Rashedul Islam; then Rampura Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mashiur Rahman; then Sub-Inspector of the police station Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan; and then Rampura police outpost Assistant Sub-Inspector Chanchal Chandra Sarkar. Only Chanchal is in custody, while the remaining four are on the run.

The witness, who at the time worked at a food shop, said that after Friday prayers on July 19, he left the shop for home.

"As I crossed the small bridge over the Rampura canal and got onto the main road, I saw police and BGB members firing on protesting students and people," he told the tribunal.

"Out of fear, I climbed to the roof of a nearby under-construction building. Three policemen followed me to the fourth floor. I held onto a rod at the edge of the roof and tried to hang there. One of them ordered me to jump off. As I did not comply, the policeman fired three rounds at me. All three bullets hit my legs. Then another policeman fired three more rounds -- those bullets also struck both my legs," he said.

"I lost consciousness. When I regained sense, I found myself in Famous Hospital, where doctors were stitching and bandaging my wounded legs," Amir said, adding that he later received treatment at several other hospitals.

While cross-examining, the defence counsel for accused Chanchal wanted to show the wounds. As Amir was wearing trousers, the prosecution brought in a lungi that he wore upon the tribunal's permission and showed the wounds.

FP/AA