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The prosecution on Thursday submitted an audio recording to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) as evidence during the second day of closing arguments in the crimes against humanity case over the July mass uprising against seven senior leaders of the now-banned Awami League, including its general secretary Obaidul Quader.
According to the prosecution, the recording captures a conversation between then Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Bangladesh Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain.
The audio was presented before a judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.
In the recording played before the court, Saddam Hossain is heard briefing Quader on protest programmes, gatherings, and a press conference organised by student demonstrators.
After hearing about the protests, Quader is allegedly heard saying: “Why aren’t you doing anything? Why aren’t you beating them? Why are you letting them advance?”
When Saddam replies that they had been instructed not to act, Quader allegedly responds: “You said everything would calm down from today. Where has it calmed down? These gatherings mean Jamaat and the BNP have joined in.”
Saddam is then heard saying they could respond politically if instructed to do so, but that they had repeatedly been told by the police and “Biplob Da” not to move toward Shahbagh or confront the protesters.
Following the hearing, Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim told reporters that the recording, dated July 11, 2024, had been forensically examined by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) before being submitted to the tribunal.
Tamim argued that directing subordinates with statements such as “Why aren’t you beating them? Why are you letting them advance?” constitutes incitement under the International Crimes Tribunal Act.
“Publicly they spoke of resistance, but over the phone and in practice, they were actually calling for attacks, not resistance,” the prosecutor said.