Hasina planned helicopter bombing on July protesters

Ousted Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasaina planned to use helicopters to bomb protesters during the July-August 2024 mass uprising.

In an audio recording of a conversation submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) in Dhaka, Hasina was heard stating that direct bombing would be carried out using helicopters, with bombs dropped from above by RAB helicopters.

Hasina was speaking over the phone with former Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, who is also the President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD).

The audio recording was played before the tribunal on Wednesday during the proceedings of a crimes against humanity case filed against Sheikh Hasina and two others.

Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun were also made accused in the case along with the former PM.

Tanvir Hassan Zoha, a prosecutor of the tribunal and a special investigation officer in the case, submitted the audio recording to the tribunal after giving his deposition as the 53rd witness.

He submitted a total of five audio recordings to the tribunal, four of which were played in the courtroom. Two of the recordings featured conversations between Hasina and Inu.

In a conversation with Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former Mayor of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Hasina was heard saying, "Instructions have already been given by me. Now I've given open orders; they will use lethal weapons and shoot wherever the protesters are found." In a conversation with Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, Hasina was heard saying, "I hanged the Razakars, now I will do the same to you. I will not spare a single one, as I've said. We remained silent for a long time and were patient, but they have crossed the line."

bikashju@gmail.com