Dhaka, Nov. 17 -- Former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, once a suspect, has stepped forward as a state witness and revealed that he had received direct instructions from the highest echelons of power to suppress the July Uprising protests "at any cost".

His testimony, delivered before the International Crimes Tribunal in a crimes against humanity case, provided an unflinching account of the deadly crackdown.

The verdict in this case, which also names ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, is scheduled for Monday. Among the three accused, only Mamun remains in custody; the other two are considered fugitives, and proceedings against them have concluded in their absenc...