Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has forcefully denied accusations of committing crimes against humanity linked to the deadly crackdown during the July Mass Uprising that resulted in her overthrow. Her denial comes just days before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is slated to announce its verdict on the matter.
Hasina stands accused of being the primary figure responsible for hundreds of killings that occurred during the widespread protests against her authoritarian government. Speaking for the first time since she fled the country on August 5, 2024, the former premier provided an email interview to the BBC. In it, she denounced the trial being conducted in her absence as a "farce" carried out by a "kangaroo court" controlled by her political adversaries.
The gravity of the charges is underscored by the prosecution's request for the death penalty should Hasina be found guilty on Monday. Hasina herself claimed the proceedings were destined to result in a "pre-ordained guilty verdict." The impending judgement is a major moment for the country and brings closure for the relatives of those who lost their lives during the student-led anti-government demonstrations.
UN human rights investigators have estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed, asserting that Hasina’s administration employed deadly, systematic violence in a futile attempt to retain power.
The former prime minister, who remains in India, has refused to return to Bangladesh to face the court. She has been specifically accused of personally issuing orders for security forces to open fire on protesters in the weeks leading up to her departure.
In her response to the BBC, Hasina "categorically" denied these claims. She stated: "I'm not denying that the situation got out of control, nor that many lives were lost needlessly. But I never issued any order to fire on unarmed civilians." She further criticised the trial process, claiming she has been unable to appoint her own legal defence or properly defend herself. She suggested that her political opponents are attempting to "liquidate" her Awami League party as a viable political entity.
Despite her denials, leaked audio footage verified by BBC Eye surfaced earlier this year, suggesting that she had authorised the use of "lethal weapons" in July 2024; this audio was presented as evidence during the court proceedings.
Hasina was formally indicted alongside two other former senior officials: Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, the former home minister, for whom prosecutors are also seeking the death penalty; and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the former inspector general of police, who pleaded guilty in July and has since turned state’s witness.
In a recent move, Hasina’s legal team issued a statement confirming they have filed an urgent appeal with the United Nations, citing profound concerns over fair trial and due process at the ICT. Separately, her Awami League party is already prohibited from participating in the general elections scheduled for February.
The BBC interview also explored a second, separate case at the special tribunal concerning serious human rights abuses committed throughout Hasina's 15-year rule. She denies the crimes against humanity charges in this case as well.
These long-term abuse allegations include the post-ouster discovery of secret gaols that housed prisoners detained for years without due legal process, with many critics and opponents allegedly killed unlawfully. When questioned about responsibility for these actions, Hasina claimed she "did not have knowledge" of the facilities. Furthermore, she denied her involvement in alleged extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances, which rights groups blame her government for. She proposed: "This is denied in terms of my own involvement, but if there is evidence of abuse by officials, let us have it examined properly in an impartial, depoliticised process."
In addition to these serious charges, Hasina and other senior members of her former administration face a separate trial for corruption, which they also deny. In anticipation of Monday's ICT verdict, security presence has been significantly heightened throughout Dhaka, particularly surrounding the tribunal.
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