Hasina's order to open fire from helicopter proven

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam has said he has presented detailed information about shootings from helicopters during last year's protests in July and August, report agencies.

He spoke to the media on Wednesday after concluding his arguments before the ICT-1 in a case over alleged crimes against humanity against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.

Wednesday marked the fourth day of arguments by the prosecution.

They are scheduled to continue today (Thursday).

Tajul said Hasina confirmed in conversations with three individuals that she instructed law-enforcing agencies to use lethal weapons to kill the protesters.

"She (Hasina) also instructed the use of drones to pinpoint locations and helicopters to shoot and kill. She confirmed to Hasanul Haq Inu that paratroopers would be dropped from helicopters in Narayanganj and that there would be bombings from above."

The court previously played audio recordings on Tuesday of conversations between Hasina and Inu, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, and SM Maksud Kamal.

Tajul said, "Through these conversations, her (Hasina's) direct instructions to carry out the killings -- the widespread and systematic attacks that we are referring to -- have been proven.

We addressed the matter of whether these telephone conversations were genuinely her voice or AI-generated.