A police officer testified before International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Monday about the February 21, 2015 deaths of two BNP leaders, Tipu Howlader and Kabir Mollah, in an alleged crossfire in Agailjhara, Barishal. Ali Ahmed, now a CID police inspector in Barishal, appeared as the 15th witness in the case against four people, including former Barishal MP Abul Hasanat Abdullah, who was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity in connection with the incident.

Ahmed said former Barishal superintendent of police A K M Ehsan Ullah visited Uzirpur police station on the night of February 20, 2015, before the officer in charge instructed him to issue special-operation deployment orders for ASI Jasim Uddin and ASI Mahbul. The next morning, he saw television headlines reporting that the two men had died in a gunfight with police in neighboring Agailjhara.

He said the two ASIs were kept off duty for 10 days and later requested another 10 to 15 days away from duty. Ahmed said he later learned they acted under the SP's instruction and supervision, and heard they received a Tk25,000 reward for the crossfire.