Hasina ordered July Uprising killings: ICT probe report

The Investigation Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has brought five allegations of crimes against humanity against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina in its probe report on the mass killings committed by her government to quell last year's July Uprising.

Alongside Hasina, the report names former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and then-inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun as co-accused.

The report was submitted to the ICT Chief Prosecutor’s Office on Monday.

Later, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam shared details of the report at a media briefing.

“Within six months and 28 days of starting the investigation, the investigating officer probed the crimes against humanity, killings, shootings, and acts like the burning of bodies that occurred nationwide during the July Uprising. Based on the findings, the report identifies Sheikh Hasina as the mastermind and superior commander who gave the orders [for the atrocities].”

Tajul added that five major allegations were raised in the report. The first charge accuses Hasina of inciting and provoking crimes against humanity.

“In a press conference on Jul 14, she referred to protesting students as ‘children and descendants of Razakars [wartime collaborators of the Pakistani occupation forces]’. This incited state forces against them. Moreover, the Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League, and auxiliary forces attacked protestors with weapons, killing and injuring them, while committing other crimes against humanity.”

The second allegation is that the crimes against humanity in July were carried out on the “direct orders” of Hasina.

“The Investigation Agency seized many of Hasina’s phone conversations. She instructed all state forces to use helicopters, drones, armoured personnel carriers, and lethal weapons to completely wipe out or eliminate the unarmed civilian population who were engaged in peaceful demonstrations.”

She is further accused of ordering killings, shootings and facilitating other acts of violence.

Tajul said the remaining three charges are based on specific incidents, though he did not elaborate on them at the briefing.

He added that all submitted evidence will now be reviewed and if deemed sufficient, formal charges will be filed in the tribunal, triggering the start of the trial process.

According to the report, around 1,500 people were killed, while over 25,000 were shot and injured. Women were subjected to violence, children were deliberately targeted and killed, and both living and dead bodies were burnt together. The injured were allegedly denied access to hospitals, medical treatment, and even post-mortem examinations.

The probe agency also claims to have evidence of Hasina ordering fires at government buildings using her own people to blame protestors -- instructions reportedly found in her phone records.

When asked by reporters, Tajul clarified that while this case was not being classified as genocide, it is being pursued as “crimes against humanity” in accordance with international law.

The ICT was originally set up in 2010 by the Awami League government to try war crimes committed during Bangladesh’s Liberation War. After the Awami League government was ousted on Aug 5, 2024, the interim government began proceedings to try Sheikh Hasina and her allies in the same tribunal.

Following the submission of charges, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Hasina on Oct 17, 2024. She has reportedly been residing in India since fleeing the country.