Leaked call unearthed by tribunal, not BBC: ICT chief prosecutor

The Report Desk

Published: July 9, 2025, 07:28 PM

Leaked call unearthed by tribunal, not BBC: ICT chief prosecutor

Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Mohammad Tajul Islam, stated on Wednesday that the controversial phone call, in which former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allegedly ordered the use of lethal force against student protesters during the July uprising, was not uncovered by the foreign media but rather by a special investigator of the tribunal itself.

The leaked audio, recently subjected to forensic analysis by independent experts, reportedly reveals the former premier authorizing the use of deadly force during the protest crackdown in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area, where at least 52 people were killed. Experts concluded that the recording was authentic, showing no signs of manipulation or artificial generation.

Sharing the link to the report online, Tajul Islam wrote that the audio clip was obtained through a domestic legal process, underscoring, “This is just a trailer. Much more is yet to come.”

Separately, Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim confirmed that the tribunal’s prosecution team possesses the leaked conversation.

He added that if formal charges are brought against Sheikh Hasina in a case of crimes against humanity, the audio will be presented as evidence during the trial.

This development adds to growing domestic and international scrutiny surrounding the events of the July-August movement, amid increasing calls for accountability and justice.

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