A BBC Eye investigation has uncovered explosive evidence linking former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to a violent crackdown on student-led protests in 2023 that left up to 1,400 people dead. A leaked and verified phone call, recorded on July 18, reveals Hasina authorizing the use of lethal force, instructing security forces to “shoot” protesters “wherever they find them.”
The protests, initially sparked by opposition to civil service job quotas favoring descendants of 1971 independence war veterans, escalated into a national movement that toppled Hasina’s 15-year rule. Some of the bloodiest violence occurred on August 5, the day Hasina fled by helicopter just before crowds stormed her residence in Dhaka.
The leaked call is being used as key evidence in Hasina’s trial in absentia by Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT). She is charged with crimes against humanity, including incitement, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass murder. Former police and government officials have also been indicted, with 203 individuals charged and 73 currently in custody.
BBC forensic analysis, supported by audio experts Earshot, confirmed the authenticity of the recording. The call was captured by Bangladesh’s National Telecommunications Monitoring Centre. Analysts verified Hasina’s voice and found no signs of tampering or synthetic manipulation.
In one of the worst incidents detailed by the investigation, 52 protesters were killed by police on August 5 in Dhaka’s Jatrabari neighborhood, significantly higher than initial reports of 30 deaths. Eyewitness footage and drone imagery showed police firing indiscriminately after the army left the scene.
Hasina, now in India, denies all charges. Her Awami League party disputes the audio’s authenticity and insists any force used was proportionate and lawful. India has yet to comply with Bangladesh’s extradition request.
Since Hasina’s ousting, an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus has taken charge, preparing for fresh elections. It remains uncertain whether the Awami League will be permitted to participate in the upcoming vote. The case has drawn international attention, with UN investigators asserting that Hasina’s actions could constitute crimes against humanity.
