Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal has revealed that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought to execute protesters during the mass uprising. The disclosure came during his opening statement in the crimes against humanity case concerning the shooting deaths of six individuals at Chanpul’s Chankharipul area during the uprising.
The prosecutor presented as evidence a transcribed telephone conversation (from audio recordings) between Sheikh Hasina and former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor ASM Maksud Kamal, which he also played before the tribunal.
The July 14, 2024 call captures Kamal warning: “Students have broken locks and exited every dorm – 5,000 have gathered at Raju Sculpture and Mall Square. They may attack my residence any moment.”
Hasina responds: “I’ve arranged protection for your residence,” before asserting: “Police, BGB are on high alert. These protesters want to be Razakars? Then they’re all Razakars. What a country we live in!”
Kamal agrees: “Yes, they’re calling us all Razakars.”
Hasina then declares: “We hanged Razakars – we’ll do the same to them. Not one will be spared. We’ve shown patience, but they’re escalating.”
Kamal urges enhanced campus security, to which Hasina replies: “BGB, RAB, and police are deployed campus-wide. Your residence will have internal guards -but don’t overreact.”
The prosecutor read the entire transcript, including Kamal’s account of Chhatra League leaders (now banned) Saddam (president), Inan (secretary), and Shayon (DU committee president) coordinating dormitory mobilisations from his residence.
Hasina retorts: “See what happened to Razakars? All were hanged – these won’t escape either.”
Kamal concludes: “Post-crisis, I’ll personally expel the main agitators from the university.”