Sheikh Hasina commanded a ‘forceful’ response to student demonstrations in Bangladesh: Report

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina allegedly commanded the suppression of student-led demonstrations in Bangladesh last year. According to reports, the head of the Awami League instructed police to violently suppress demonstrators. A report revealed that a leaked audio from March showed that Hasina urged security personnel to apply deadly force.

In July 2024, approximately 1,400 individuals lost their lives amid the demonstrations and national turmoil in Bangladesh. The ex-prime minister faces allegations of crimes against humanity due to her directives during the protests. According to the report , a leaked audio is said to be a discussion between Sheikh Hasina and a senior government official whose identity remains unknown.

In the discussion, the Bangladeshi leader is recorded instructing security personnel to deploy “lethal weapons” on demonstrators, stating that police and security agents should fire at them “wherever they encounter” the protesters.

The BBC also mentioned that the discussion occurred at Hasina’s official home in Dhaka – the Ganabhaban on July 18. A representative from the Awami League informed  that they were unable to verify the legitimacy of the leaked audio. The Awami League and Hasina have dismissed all accusations of crimes against humanity made by the United Nations.

In addition to crimes against humanity, Sheikh Hasina, whose trial commenced last month, faces allegations of giving orders that resulted in widespread killings and targeted attacks on civilians, along with incitement, conspiracy, and neglect in preventing mass murder.

Despite Hasina staying out of the spotlight during her exile in India, multiple ex-government and police officials have been charged for the deaths of protestors from the previous year.  As per reports, around 203 individuals have been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal in Bangladesh, of whom 73 are in custody.