International

Leaked audio shows ex-Bangladesh leader authorised deadly crackdown

Published

5 months ago

July 9, 2025

Leaked audio shows ex-Bangladesh leader authorised deadly crackdown

A deadly crackdown on student-led protests in Bangladesh last year was authorised by then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, according to audio of one of her phone calls verified by BBC Eye.

In the audio, which was leaked online in March, Hasina says she authorised her security forces to “use lethal weapons” against protesters and that “wherever they find [them], they will shoot”.

Prosecutors in Bangladesh plan to use the recording as crucial evidence against Hasina, who is being tried in absentia at a special tribunal for crimes against humanity.

Up to 1,400 people died in last summer’s unrest, according to UN investigators. Hasina, who fled to India, and her party reject all charges against her.

A spokesperson for her Awami League party denied the tape showed any “unlawful intention” of “disproportionate response”.

The leaked audio of Hasina’s conversation with an unidentified senior government official is the most significant evidence yet that she gave direct authorisation to shoot anti-government protesters, tens of thousands of whom had taken to the streets by last summer.

The protests began against civil service job quotas for relatives of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence and escalated into a mass movement that ousted Hasina, who had been in power for 15 years. It is the worst violence Bangladesh had seen since the 1971 war.

Some of the bloodiest scenes occurred on 5 August, the day Hasina fled by helicopter before crowds stormed her residence in Dhaka.

The BBC World Service investigation established previously unreported details about a police massacre of protesters in the capital – including a much higher death toll.

Hasina was at her residence in Dhaka, known as the Ganabhaban, for the duration of the call which took place on 18 July, a source with knowledge of the leaked audio told the BBC.

READ ALSO:

It was a crucial moment in the demonstrations. Security officials were responding to public outrage at police killings of protesters captured on video and shared across social media. In the days following the call, military-grade rifles were deployed and used across Dhaka, according to police documents seen by the BBC.

The recording the BBC examined is one of numerous calls involving Sheikh Hasina that were made by the National Telecommunications Monitoring Centre (NTMC), a Bangladeshi government body responsible for monitoring communications.

The audio of the call was leaked in early March this year – it’s unclear by whom. Since the protests, numerous clips of Hasina’s calls have appeared online, many of them unverified.

The leaked 18 July recording was voice matched by the Criminal Investigation Department in the Bangladesh Police with known audio of Sheikh Hasina’s voice.

The BBC conducted its own independent verification by sharing the recording with audio forensics experts Earshot, who found no evidence the speech had been edited or manipulated and said it was highly unlikely to have been synthetically generated.

Earshot said the leaked recording was likely to have been taken in a room with the phone call played back on a speaker, due to the presence of distinctive telephonic frequencies and background sounds. Earshot identified Electric Network Frequency (ENF) throughout the recording, a frequency that’s often present in audio recordings due to interference between a recording device and mains-powered equipment, an indicator that the audio has not been manipulated.

Earshot also analysed Sheikh Hasina’s speech – the rhythm, intonation and breath sounds – and identified consistent noise floor levels, finding no evidence of synthetic artefacts in the audio.

“The recordings are critical for establishing her role, they are clear and have been properly authenticated, and are supported by other evidence,” British international human rights barrister Toby Cadman told the BBC. He is advising Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT), the court hearing cases against Hasina and others.

An Awami League spokesperson said: “We cannot confirm whether the tape recording referenced by the BBC is authentic.”

Alongside Sheikh Hasina, former government and police officials have been implicated in the killings of protesters. A total of 203 individuals have been indicted by the ICT, of whom 73 are in custody.

BBC Eye analysed and verified hundreds of videos, images and documents detailing police attacks against demonstrators across 36 days.

The investigation found that in one incident on 5 August in Jatrabari, a busy Dhaka neighbourhood, at least 52 people were killed by police, making it one of the worst incidents of police violence in Bangladesh’s history. Initial reports at the time suggested 30 dead in Jatrabari on that day.

READ ALSO:

The BBC investigation uncovered new details about how the massacre started and ended.

Gathering eyewitness footage, CCTV and drone imagery, BBC Eye established that police opened fire indiscriminately on protesters immediately after army personnel, who were separating the police from the protesters, vacated the area.

For more than 30 minutes the police shot at fleeing protesters as they tried to escape down alleyways and on the highway, before the police officers sought shelter in a nearby army camp. At least six police officers were also killed as protesters retaliated hours later, setting fire to the Jatrabari police station.

A spokesperson for the Bangladesh Police told the BBC that 60 police officers had been arrested for their role in the violence in July and August last year.

“There were regrettable incidents in which certain members of the then police force engaged in excessive use of force,” said the spokesperson. “Bangladesh Police has launched thorough and impartial investigations.”

Sheikh Hasina’s trial began last month. She has been charged with committing crimes against humanity, including issuing orders that led to mass killings and targeted violence against civilians, as well as incitement, conspiracy and failure to prevent mass murder.

India has so far failed to comply with a Bangladeshi request for her extradition. It is unlikely that Hasina will return to the country for the trial, Mr Cadman said.

The Awami League maintains that its leaders are not liable for the force used against protesters.

“The Awami League categorically denies and rejects claims that some of its senior leaders, including the prime minister herself, were personally responsible for or directed the use of lethal force against crowds,” a spokesperson for the party said.

“The decisions made by senior government officials were proportionate in nature, made in good faith and intended to minimise the loss of life.”

The party has rejected the findings of United Nations investigators, who said they had found reasonable grounds to believe the actions of Hasina and her government could amount to crimes against humanity.

The BBC approached the Bangladesh army for comment but did not receive a response.

Since Hasina’s fall, Bangladesh has been ruled by an interim government led by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.

His government is preparing for national elections. It’s unclear if the Awami League will be allowed to contest the vote.

Leaked audio shows ex-Bangladesh leader authorised deadly crackdown

BBC

Related Topics:Bangladesh crackdown leader leaked audio

Up Next

233 children poisoned in Chinese pre-school

Don't Miss

Texas floods: 161 people still missing in one county

International

Meta to Block Under-16s from Instagram, Facebook, Threads ahead of Australia’s World-First Youth Social Media Ban

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Meta to Block Under-16s from Instagram, Facebook, Threads ahead of Australia’s World-First Youth Social Media Ban

Meta announced on Thursday that it will begin removing under-16 users in Australia from Instagram, Threads, and Facebook, ahead of the country’s pioneering youth social media ban. Australia’s law, which also affects TikTok and YouTube, comes into effect on December 10 and requires platforms to block underage users or face fines of AUS$49.5 million (US$32 million) for failing to take “reasonable steps” to comply.

A Meta spokesperson said the company is working to remove all users believed to be under 16 by the deadline. Young users will be able to download and save their online histories, and upon turning 16, regain access with their content fully restored.

The law is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of Australian adolescents, with Instagram alone reporting roughly 350,000 users aged 13 to 15. Platforms such as Roblox, Pinterest, and WhatsApp are currently exempt, though the exemption list is under review.

READ ALSO:

While committing to compliance, Meta urged app stores to take responsibility for age verification and parental approval at download, arguing this would reduce repeated verification across multiple apps and ensure teens remain in age-appropriate experiences.

YouTube has criticized the law, claiming it could make under-16s less safe by removing safety filters if they access the site without an account. Australia’s Communications Minister Anika Wells dismissed this as “weird,” noting that the law aims to protect teens from harmful algorithm-driven content that can negatively affect self-esteem.

The law has faced legal challenges. The Digital Freedom Project has launched a High Court case, arguing the ban infringes on freedom of speech. Authorities also anticipate attempts by teens to bypass the restrictions using fake IDs or AI tools.

Australia’s ban is drawing global attention as other countries consider similar measures. Malaysia plans to block children under 16 from social media next year, while New Zealand is preparing to introduce a similar law.

Meta to Block Under-16s from Instagram, Facebook, Threads ahead of Australia’s World-First Youth Social Media Ban

International

Putin Warns Europe: Russia Ready to Fight as Peace Talks Over Ukraine Continue

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2025

Trends Admin

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Putin Warns Europe: Russia Ready to Fight as Peace Talks Over Ukraine Continue

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning to Europe, declaring that demands for an end to the war in Ukraine on terms favorable to Kyiv are “not acceptable.” Speaking in Moscow on Tuesday, Putin insisted that while Russia does not seek conflict with Europe, it is ready to fight if challenged.

Putin accused European nations of withdrawing from the peace process and lacking a genuine diplomatic agenda, claiming that European actions are hindering U.S.-led negotiations aimed at resolving the war.
“We are not going to fight with Europe, but if Europe wants to fight with us, we are ready right now,” he said.

READ ALSO:

The remarks came ahead of a scheduled meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss an amended peace plan for Ukraine, following criticism that the original 28-point draft was overly favorable to Russia. Sources indicate that the updated proposals focus on territorial disputes, security guarantees, and financial matters, including the use of frozen Russian assets, though full details have not been disclosed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the peace plan as a potential avenue to end the war but stressed that territorial issues and financial guarantees must be resolved, alongside robust security assurances to prevent further Russian aggression.

Despite diplomatic efforts, fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, with Pokrovsk witnessing clashes despite Russian claims of control. Zelenskyy is currently in Ireland, meeting with President Catherine Connolly and Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who announced €125 million in aid for Ukraine, including non-lethal military support and energy assistance, reaffirming solidarity as the conflict enters a critical phase.

Meanwhile, the U.S. delegation in Russia, including Witkoff and Jared Kushner, toured Moscow ahead of the talks. The Kremlin has indicated that discussions will continue “as long as it takes” to achieve progress, underscoring the high stakes of ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations.

This development highlights escalating tensions between Russia and Europe while international stakeholders push for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war.

Putin Warns Europe: Russia Ready to Fight as Peace Talks Over Ukraine Continue

International

US Navy Conducts Second Strike on Alleged Venezuelan Drug Boat

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2025

Trends Admin

US Navy Conducts Second Strike on Alleged Venezuelan Drug Boat

The White House has confirmed that a top US Navy commander, Admiral Frank Bradley, authorised a second military strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat, following reports that two people survived an initial attack. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Monday that Bradley acted “within his authority and the law,” and clarified that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth did not order a “kill everyone” directive, contrary to media claims.

The second strike reportedly occurred after survivors clung to the burning vessel, prompting renewed concerns over the legality of US military operations targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in international waters near Venezuela and Colombia. Over 80 people have been killed in these operations since early September, part of a broader US anti-narcotics mission in the Caribbean.

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have called for congressional reviews. The Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by Senator Roger Wicker, said it will seek testimony from the admiral in charge, as well as audio and video evidence, to determine the exact nature of the orders. The House Armed Services Committee has also pledged a bipartisan investigation into the operation.

READ ALSO:

Experts have questioned whether the second strike could be considered legal under international law, highlighting protections for shipwrecked sailors or incapacitated combatants under the Geneva Conventions. The Trump administration maintains the operations are part of a non-international armed conflict against narco-terrorist groups, which it claims are subject to lethal targeting.

The strikes have further escalated tensions with Venezuela, with President Nicolás Maduro and the National Assembly condemning the attacks and pledging an investigation. US officials have accused Maduro of leading the Cartel of the Suns, an organisation allegedly involved in drug trafficking and terrorism, allegations Maduro denies.

In recent weeks, Trump has also discussed the potential deployment of US ground forces to Venezuela and reportedly pressured Maduro to resign during a phone call, offering him a safe departure under certain conditions, which were rejected. The escalating crisis has raised international concerns over the use of lethal force and the potential violation of humanitarian law in anti-drug operations.