At the International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka, Arisha Afroz, mother of slain school student Shahid Ashikul Islam, gave her testimony as the fifth witness in the case concerning the killing of 28 people during the July Revolution in Rampura. The hearing took place before a three-member judicial panel led by Chairman Golam Mortuza Majumdar, with Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as members.

In her statement, Arisha Afroz described how her 14-year-old son, a ninth-grade student at Bonoshree Nibrash Madrasa, joined demonstrators after Friday prayers on July 19, 2024. She recounted seeing protesters shot as security forces opened fire, and later identified her son’s body at a hospital, where doctors confirmed he had died from a gunshot wound to the head. She alleged that several officials, including a Border Guard Bangladesh officer, were involved in the shooting and demanded justice for her son’s death.

The tribunal proceedings are part of an ongoing case against four accused officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Redwanul Islam, over the Rampura killings.