Leaked Audio Links Exiled Bangladesh PM to Deadly 2024 Crackdown

Leaked audio recordings analyzed by BBC and other international experts reveal that Bangladesh's fugitive ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered security forces to use lethal weapons during the deadly student-led protests in mid-2024. The crackdown, which resulted in up to 1,400 deaths according to the United Nations, saw police open fire indiscriminately on protesters in Dhaka, with military-grade weapons deployed following Hasina's directive. The recordings, authenticated by voice-matching and audio forensics, form key evidence in Hasina's ongoing trial in absentia for crimes against humanity at Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal. Hasina, who fled to India after the uprising, denies the charges, and her banned Awami League party rejects claims of directing lethal force. The brutal suppression, including a police massacre on August 5, 2024, marked the most violent period in Bangladesh since its independence war and led to Hasina's removal from power after 15 years. The leaked call's authenticity and content have significant implications for holding the former leader accountable for the crackdown.