‘Hasina mastermind of July atrocities’
The Investigation Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) yesterday submitted its probe report against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, bringing five allegations of crimes against humanity during the July uprising.
Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were named co-accused in the report.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "The Investigation Agency has obtained telephonic conversations where Sheikh Hasina clearly instructed all state forces to use deadly weapons, helicopters, drones, and APCs, to annihilate protesters who were peacefully demonstrating for legitimate rights. The report contains many recorded evidences of these instructions."
"A series of crimes against humanity were committed across the country -- including killings, injuries caused by gunfire, and the inhumane act of burning bodies. After a thorough investigation into these allegations, a report has been submitted, identifying Sheikh Hasina as the mastermind and superior commander who ordered these actions," ICT Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told a media briefing hours after receiving the report in the morning.
Hasina is currently in India, where she fled following the fall of the Awami League-led government. Asaduzzaman Khan is also absconding, while ex-IGP Al-Mamun is in jail.
The former prime minister is already facing two other cases filed with the ICT -- one over alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the 15.5-year-long AL rule, and the other over killings during the 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel.
Citing the probe report, Tajul said Hasina is directly responsible for ordering all state forces, her party, and its associated bodies to carry out actions that led to mass killings, injuries, targeted violence against women and children, the incineration of bodies, and denial of medical treatment to the wounded.
He added that, according to the report, more than 1,500 individuals were killed, over 25,000 wounded, and countless others subjected to torture and other inhumane treatment.
Tajul said the prosecution will submit formal charges to the ICT for trial if, upon reviewing the report, other documents and relevant material, it finds sufficient evidence. "Once the formal charges are filed, the official trial process will begin."
He noted that it may take two to three weeks to press charges.
Detailing two of the five charges against Hasina, the chief prosecutor said the first pertains to incitement.
"During a press conference on July 14, she [Hasina] called protesting students 'children of Razakars' and 'grandchildren of Razakars'. These remarks incited law enforcement and intelligence agencies to act violently against the protesters. Alongside these forces, auxiliary groups like the Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League also attacked demonstrators with weapons, resulting in murder, injuries and other crimes against humanity," he said, adding, "As a result, Hasina has been charged with incitement, abetment, facilitation, conspiracy and failure to prevent."
The second charge, he said, involves direct orders.
"The Investigation Agency has obtained telephonic conversations in which Sheikh Hasina clearly instructed all state forces to use deadly weapons, helicopters, drones, and APCs [armoured personnel carriers] to annihilate protesters who were peacefully demonstrating for legitimate rights. The report contains many recorded evidences of these instructions," Tajul said.
"As such, the second charge concerns directly ordering murder, causing grievous harm by gunfire, and associated conspiracy."
The remaining three charges are based on specific incidents where crimes were allegedly committed under Hasina's directives. The chief prosecutor did not elaborate on these.
The report also reveals systematic violence against women and the deliberate targeting of children. It states that dead bodies, along with living individuals, were burned together. Simultaneously, hospitals were barred from treating the wounded, post-mortems were obstructed, and doctors were prevented from providing care.
Tajul said Hasina had visited several hospitals and instructed doctors not to treat protesters admitted there. "Those who wished to leave due to unbearable pain were not allowed to, resulting in gangrene and amputations, as per her directives. The Investigation Agency found such evidence and included it in the report."
Additionally, the agency uncovered evidence that government agents set fire to public institutions to falsely blame protesters. Telephone recordings of Hasina's involvement in these arson directives have been submitted as evidence, Tajul added.
The report includes medical certificates of injured individuals, death certificates of those killed, testimonies from doctors and victims, numerous call records, video footage, audio clips, bullets retrieved from victims' bodies, flight schedules of helicopters used, lists of weapons, and documents from domestic and international organisations -- including a UN report -- alongside statements from witnesses and some accused individuals.
"We expect to finalise and file the formal charges soon, maintaining international standards and ensuring a flawless trial. The people of this country demand swift justice, but trials for crimes against humanity are not ordinary; they cannot proceed under street pressure. This is a matter of law and professional investigation," he said, cautioning that rushing may jeopardise the case and undermine justice.
"Let the tribunal, prosecution and investigators take the time they need."
He said investigations into many killings are still ongoing, and the aim is to identify and prosecute all actual perpetrators.
Regarding the report's contents and witness details, he said, "The probe report is a classified document. We are not obliged to share it; not even with the accused. The names and numbers of the witnesses are withheld for their security. Revealing their identities would severely compromise their safety."
In response to a query, Tajul confirmed they are aware of the amendments to the ICT Act, 1973, which state that any political organisation found guilty of crimes against humanity will face specific punishments.
"Now, we will take a decision for the future -- whether or not an investigation will be conducted against any political party, and whether they will be brought to trial."
On the classification of the July uprising crimes, he explained, "According to the report, these are crimes against humanity -- not 'genocide' -- as they do not meet the definition of the word."
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