The then IGP Abdullah Al Mamun encouraged the former Home Minister about the plan. This operation of firing from helicopters was named 'Operation Cleandown'. When Sheikh Hasina was informed about such a plan, she accepted it. After that, helicopters were used to fire on the students and the public during the July Revolution.
This operation of firing from helicopters to suppress the movement has been learned from sources related to RAB and the police. The source said that this is the first incident of helicopter firing to suppress a movement in Bangladesh. The current Director General of RAB, AKM Shahidur Rahman, told Amar Desh that an investigation is underway into the incident of firing from the helicopter.
The DG of RAB said that an investigation is underway not only into the firing from the helicopter, but also into other issues including disappearances. It is worth noting that although numerous people were killed and injured due to indiscriminate firing from RAB helicopters, it created a huge reaction. As a result, RAB initially denied the firing incident. RAB stated at a press conference that RAB did not fire from the helicopter. Tear shells and sound grenades were fired from the helicopter.
Amar Desh's investigation also revealed that RAB used the RAB's air wing to fire from a US-made Bell 407 helicopter. RAB has two such helicopters. The use of RAB helicopters to suppress the July uprising increased from July 13. In addition to the shooting, helicopters were also used to rescue RAB and police members.
On July 20, about 50 police members were trapped on the roof of the Canadian University building in Merul Badda in the capital, facing gunfire from students and the public. When the trapped police members informed higher officials, RAB helicopters were sent there. Later, 10 of the trapped police members were rescued from there in five stages.
Meanwhile, an initiative was taken to purchase two Russian-made Mi-171 helicopters for Tk 3.7 billion to form a police air wing. In view of RAB's experience, the interim government canceled the project.
A senior officer (absconding) of the Ramna police division said that on July 9, a meeting was held at the Shankar residence of former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was criticized for various reasons, at around 12:30 am. During the 36-day movement of the July Revolution, this meeting was held regularly at Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal's residence almost every day.
The meeting was attended by two senior secretaries of the Home Ministry, the IGP, the DG of RAB, the DMP Commissioner, additional IGPs and senior second-line officers of the law enforcement agencies. The movement's pace and nature were reviewed in that meeting. Directions were given to the police and law enforcement agencies in which areas they should play a strong role.
In that meeting, former DG of RAB Barrister Harun-or-Rashid first drew the attention of the Home Minister to the use of helicopters to suppress the movement. He showed a plan on paper of how the helicopter would be used. The then Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operation) of DMP, Kh. Mohid Uddin, agreed with the RAB DG's plan.
He told the Home Minister, "I have discussed the matter with Sir (IGP). If we use it, we will get huge benefits." At that time, IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun asked the Home Minister for permission to use helicopters to suppress the movement. The former Home Minister praised the RAB's plan to use helicopters to suppress the movement and brought the matter to the attention of Sheikh Hasina. Since then, indiscriminate firing has been carried out from RAB helicopters.
Sources say that helicopters were used more in Rayerbagh and Chittagong Road in Jatrabari. The police had to struggle to suppress the mass movement of students and the public in that area. Apart from this, there have been reports of firing from helicopters in Mirpur area. Many people were killed and maimed in the firing from helicopters, and even lost their eyes.
A 12-year-old child named Jobaid Hossain Emon died on July 19 due to firing from a RAB helicopter. The child was brought to Ibne Sina Hospital in Dhanmondi in an injured condition. The bullet entered the child's left ear and exited below the right ear, piercing the jaw. The doctor declared the child dead. Housewife Sumaiya (20) was shot dead by a RAB helicopter in the Painadi area of Siddhirganj, Narayanganj. At that time, Sumaiya fell on the balcony floor when the bullet hit her head. She was renting a flat on the sixth floor of a building in the Painadi area of Siddhirganj.
During the movement, it was learned from the families of the victims at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) that Abdul Ahad (4) lived with his family in Rayerbagh in Jatrabari. He was shot on the balcony of an 11th-floor house. At that time, tear gas and gunfire were fired from a helicopter in the area, said his father Abul Hasan. Ahad later died.
In this regard, Dhaka College student Akbar Hossain said that on July 22, they were at the New Market intersection. At that time, a helicopter was seen flying. Tear gas and gunfire were fired from the helicopter. Next to it, there was a large
Tear shells fall. A writ petition was filed in the High Court on August 15 seeking an investigation into the killing of 9 children in helicopter gunfire.
Meanwhile, after the fall of the government on August 5, the RAB DG was sent on compulsory retirement. B. Mohid Uddin was also sent on compulsory retirement. Multiple murder cases have been filed against both of them. When contacted, former RAB DG Barrister Harun-or-Rashid could not be reached.
When contacted, former Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) B. Mohid Uddin could not be reached either. Both of them are not active online. It is learnt that Barrister Harun has migrated to India while B. Mohid is staying in the country.
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