‘Hasina’s orders of using lethal weapon proven’

Staff Reporter :

The prosecution at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has claimed to have proven that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered the use of helicopters and lethal weapons against protesters during the July Uprising, ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after the fourth day of arguments, Tajul said, “We have established before the tribunal that the killings were carried out on Hasina’s direct orders. These acts were part of a widespread and systematic campaign, amounting to crimes against humanity.”
He said two of the five charges were heard today, while the remaining arguments would continue tomorrow.

Tajul stated that during Tuesday’s hearing, the tribunal played audio recordings of conversations between Hasina and several party leaders — including Hasanul Haq Inu, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, and S M Maksud Kamal.

“The recordings reveal Hasina giving instructions to identify protester positions and ordering attacks from helicopters. In one clip, she confirmed to Inu that paratroopers would be deployed in Narayanganj and that bombings would take place from the air,” he said.

According to Tajul, the prosecution presented a wide range of evidence, including live-witness testimonies, documents, video footage, flight logs, lists of weapons used, and forensic reports.
“Flight charts, pilot identities, and the names of military and police personnel aboard the helicopters were produced in court. We also submitted inventories of weapons — including SMGs, light machine guns, shotguns, rifles, and stun grenades — along with footage of the wounded and ballistic evidence recovered from victims,” he added.

“The chain of command — from orders issued at the top to their execution on the ground — has been fully demonstrated with material evidence,” Tajul told journalists.
Addressing questions about the authenticity of the audio recordings, Tajul said the Crime Investigation Department (CID) conducted forensic analysis confirming the voice on the tapes matched Sheikh Hasina’s. He added that BBC and Al Jazeera independently verified the recordings and found no signs of AI manipulation.
He further said that the voices of Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Hasanul Haq Inu, and S M Maksud Kamal were also authenticated.
Tajul noted that several senior officials testified under oath that they had received explicit orders to use lethal force and helicopters, which were transmitted through command chains and wireless communications to field units.
“The scope, coordination, and systematic execution of the attacks meet both domestic and international standards for crimes against humanity,” the chief prosecutor said, asserting that the evidence would stand in any international court.
The defence is expected to begin its arguments after the prosecution completes its presentation. Hearings at the ICT are ongoing.