Between July and August 2024, around 1,400 people were killed in Bangladesh during a violent crackdown on protesters. This happened when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government tried to stay in power, according to the United Nations.
Hasina, who is 77 years old, ran away to India after a student-led protest movement grew strong. She has refused to return to the capital, Dhaka, where her trial started on June 1. She is being tried without being present (in absentia) for crimes against humanity.
The BBC Eye Investigations team studied a leaked audio recording, which is a major piece of evidence in the case. In the recording, dated July 18, 2024, a voice that is believed to be Hasina’s is heard ordering the police to shoot protesters and saying they can use deadly weapons.
Audio experts said the clip does not appear to be fake or changed. Bangladesh police also compared the voice to known recordings of Hasina and said it matches.
Hasina denies the charges
The protests started on July 1, 2024, led by university students. They were angry about the quota system for government jobs and wanted it changed.
At first, it seemed impossible that students could remove Hasina from power. She had just won her fourth term in an unfair election.
But the protests grew larger, especially after police violently attacked protesters on July 16.
Hasina’s government lawyer, who says they have not spoken to her, has asked the court to cancel the charges.
Hasina’s political party, the Awami League, which is now banned, also denies the accusations. They say Hasina and top leaders did not give orders to kill people. Instead, they say that some police officers acted wrongly on their own, and that this led to tragic deaths.
In a different case, Hasina was already found guilty of disrespecting the court on July 2 and got a six-month sentence. She is still living in India.
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