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Phone conversations of the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina with Dhaka’s former south mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh were played in the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday, revealing instructions on the use of force and surveillance to suppress the July uprising protests.

The recordings of the conversations were played before the two-judge ICT-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, while prosecutor Tavir Hassan Zoha had been testifying as the 53rd prosecution witness in the crimes against humanity case against fugitive  Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and detained former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.

They are accused of superior command responsibility for widespread and systematic crimes during the July uprising that led to the fall of the Hasina-led Awami League regime and her flight to India for shelter on August 5, 2024.

Mamun is now a state evidence.

In his deposition, Zoha stated that, as the special investigation officer, he seized five phone call recordings of Sheikh Hasina from the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre on December 23, 2024.

One of the recordings captured a conversation between Hasina and Taposh, where she allegedly ordered mass arrests and the use of lethal force against protesters.

Another recording revealed a conversation between Hasina and former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, in which Hasina referred to protesters as ‘Razakars’ and threatened to hang them ‘like the 1971 war criminals.’

Zoha also presented a third call between Hasina and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod) president Hasanul Haq Inu, where Hasina reportedly admitted to ordering bomb attacks on student protesters.

This recording, Zoha said, was also found on social media.

He added that all seized recordings were submitted to the chief coordinator of the ICT’s Investigation Agency and later verified by the CID’s forensic department, which confirmed the authenticity of the voices.

In the leaked calls, Hasina discussed with her nephew Taposh about using drones and helicopters for aerial surveillance to identify protesters and fire sound grenades.

Taposh informed Hasina that the home minister had told him security forces were moving toward the capital’s Mohammadpur area.

Hasina asked whether RAB would be deployed and clarified, ‘I have given open instructions. Lethal weapons can now be used. Shoot on sight.’

Hasina said that she had initially resisted ordering such force to protect students, but Taposh responded that criminals, not students, were behind the violence, according to the call recording.

Hasina asked Taposh what action to take, to which he responded, ‘Do you want to involve the military?’

Hasina told him to ‘think before speaking’.

‘It is their desire,’ Hasina said, referring to the situation. ‘I understand technically. I think they are trying to steer things in that direction.’

She then added, ‘It’s not necessary. I’ve spoken to the army chief. The army will be ready.’

Hasina said, ‘We’re using drones and helicopters to capture images where protests are gathering. It has already started in some areas.’

Taposh asked if it would be possible to arrest all the protesters that night by identifying them using drones, as, according to the home minister, the protesters were planning to engage in subversive activities at night.

Hasina replied, ‘I have already ordered all arrests to happen tonight. I have told RAB, DGFI, and others to detain anyone they find, wherever they are.’

Referring to infrastructural damage, Hasina said, ‘Fires are everywhere. BRT and BTRC have been torched. BTV has been set on fire. The internet is shut down. Everything is burning. How can they continue?’

Taposh appeared to support the crackdown, saying the situation was ‘becoming better.’

Both agreed that the night would be used to launch full-scale arrests.

In one of her narrations on how to contain protesters at Shanir Akhra in Jatrabari in the capital, Hasina informed Hasanul Haq Inu that even though protesters had barricaded the area, they would be attacked from both sides and from above, according to another phone recording.

She said, ‘You can give the message that the army is being sent… bombing will be done directly from helicopters, RAB’s helicopter will throw it from the air.’

Inu then suggested imposing a curfew, but advised against issuing a ‘shoot on sight’ order. Instead, he proposed a propaganda strategy, ‘We will say shooting on sight, but actually arrests will be made and kept in police stations without sending them to jail. The word ‘shooting’ cannot be used. It will be said that legal action will be taken.’

Inu went on to praise Hasina for her crackdown on the protesters, including those in Uttara.

Hasina called Inu a ‘friend of the battlefield’ in response, and Inu suggested increasing security forces around her residence.