Ex-Bangladesh leader says she’s not guilty of crimes against humanity

Bangladesh’s former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has denied committing crimes against humanity during the deadly crackdown on last year’s uprising that toppled her, days before the special court trying her is due to rule.

Hasina has been accused of being the main architect behind hundreds of murders during mass protests against her autocratic rule, an allegation she denies.

In his first interview with the BBC since fleeing the country on August 5, 2024, he said the trial in absentia was a “farce” organized by a “kangaroo court” controlled by political opponents.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Hasina is found guilty on Monday.

Hasina claimed the trial would lead to a “predetermined guilty verdict”.

Security was tightened in and around the court in the capital Dhaka ahead of Monday’s verdict.

This will be a significant moment for the country as well as the relatives of those killed during the student-led anti-government protests that toppled Hasina.

UN human rights investigators said: Close to 1,400 people were killed as Hasina and her government unleashed systematic, deadly violence against protesters who failed to retain power.

The former prime minister refused to return from India to attend the hearing.

He is accused of personally ordering security forces to open fire on protesters in the weeks before his escape.

Hasina told the BBC in an email interview that she “categorically” denied such allegations.

“I do not deny that the situation got out of control or that many people lost their lives needlessly. But I never gave the order to open fire on unarmed civilians,” he said.

leaked Audio of one of the phone calls verified by BBC Eye claimed earlier this year that it authorized the use of “lethal weapons” in July 2024. The audio was played in court during the hearing.

Hasina was formally charged along with two others in July this year. They are former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.

Prosecutors sought the death penalty for the former hideout. The latter pleaded guilty in July but has not yet been sentenced.

Speaking about the hearing, Hasina said that she could not defend herself and could not appoint her own lawyer.

He added that his political rivals were going after the Awami League party with the aim of “liquidating” it as a political force.

Lawyers representing him issued a statement on Monday saying they had filed an urgent appeal with the UN, raising serious fair trial and due process issues at the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh.

The Awami League is already barred from participating in the general elections to be held in February.

The BBC interview also discussed other allegations of serious violations committed during Hasina’s 15-year rule, which will be heard in another case in the special court. Hasina denies accusations of crimes against humanity in this case as well.

After Hasina was ousted from power, many secret prisons were discovered where prisoners who had been detained for years without any legal process were kept. It is claimed that many of Hasina’s critics and opponents who were kidnapped or held in these prisons were unlawfully killed.

When asked who was responsible for this, Hasina said she had “no knowledge” of any of this.

He also denied involvement in alleged extrajudicial killings and disappearances during his leadership of the human rights group, which he said he was responsible for as head of the government.

“This is denied in terms of my involvement, but if there is evidence of abuse by authorities, let’s properly examine it in an impartial, depoliticized process,” he said.

Hasina and other senior members of her former government are also being tried in a separate court on corruption charges, charges they deny.