ICT orders forensic probe into Hasina's call recordings over Jul-Aug massacre

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has directed the Criminal Investigation Department and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to conduct a forensic examination of call recordings of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her close associates, related to the July-August massacre, to verify their authenticity.

The tribunal, led by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, issued the order today (13 January), members of the ICT prosecution team told reporters.

They disclosed that they had obtained "crucial call recordings of Hasina and others related to the killings and enforced disappearances" that took place during the student-led mass uprising last year and presented them before the tribunal.

The tribunal ordered the forensic analysis to verify the authenticity of the audio files of the call recordings obtained from various sources and online platforms, said Prosecutor BM Sultan Mahmud.

Prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Joha said significant evidence regarding enforced disappearances has also been found. "All kinds of arrangements were also made [by the previous government] to get rid of the evidence of the murders."

The prosecutors also accused various agencies of non-cooperation in providing information to the tribunal.

Sheikh Hasina fled to India with her sister Sheikh Rehana on 5 August last year in the face of a mass uprising led by students. She has been in India since then.

After the fall of her Awami League government, more than 60 cases or complaints of enforced disappearances, killings, genocide, and crimes against humanity were lodged with the ICT, accusing Hasina, leaders of the AL and 14-party alliance, and senior officials of different law enforcement agencies.

Numerous cases on various charges, including murder and attempt to murder, have also been filed in police stations in Dhaka and around the country against the ousted prime minister, who ruled the country with an iron fist for 15 years, and AL leaders.

Since she fled to India, the demand has been growing to have her repatriated to the country and face trial for the crimes committed by her administration during the July-August uprising.

On 6 January, the ICT issued arrest warrants against Hasina and 11 others in connection with the incidents of enforced disappearance that occurred during the 15-year rule of the AL.

The inspector general of police (IGP) has been ordered to arrest these individuals and produce them before the tribunal on 12 February.

Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former defence adviser to Hasina, and former IGP Benazir Ahmed are among the accused, who were members of different law enforcement agencies, now wanted over complaints of enforced disappearance.

This was the second arrest warrant issued by the ICT against Hasina.

On 17 October, the first warrant was issued against Hasina on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the July-August protests and uprising.

The tribunal that day also issued arrest warrants against 45 others, including AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who was also her former ICT adviser.