Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Aminul Islam has alleged that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued directives instructing law enforcement agencies to use lethal force, including “shoot directly” orders, during the July-August 2024 Mass Uprising.
The chief prosecutor made the claim at a press briefing held at his office on Sunday, stating that the instruction was allegedly given during a conversation between Sheikh Hasina and then Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.
According to him, the directive involved the use of deadly weapons against protesters, which he described as being implemented across the country during the unrest. He alleged that the outcome was widespread firing on students and civilians, leading to a large number of fatalities.
Aminul Islam termed the alleged instruction as “inhuman and horrific,” particularly coming from a head of government, and said it reflected a chain of command that contributed to excessive force being used during the protests.
The prosecutor made the remarks shortly after the ICT formally framed charges of crimes against humanity against 28 individuals in connection with the killing of nine people in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area on 18 and 19 July 2024. The charges include allegations of superior command responsibility, individual responsibility, and targeted killings.
The prosecution also claimed that drones and helicopters were used to fire on protesters during those incidents, resulting in multiple casualties. A specific victim, a youth named Faiyaz, was cited as an example of the violence, which the prosecutor said deeply shocked public sentiment.
The tribunal has scheduled 8 June for the beginning of witness testimony in the case as investigations continue into alleged crimes committed during the 2024 Student-People’s Uprising.
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