Forensic Findings Fuel Fallout: Leaked Audio Implicates Ex-PM Hasina in Protest Crackdown
Leaked audio clips of a phone conversation by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are not AI-generated, but authentic recordings, according to a forensic report cited by BBC’s fact-check team, BBC Eye. The audio, reportedly recorded on July 18, 2024, from Hasina’s official residence, Ganabhaban, captures her giving direct orders to use lethal force against anti-government protesters during the July student-led uprising.
The forensic analysis was conducted by experts from Earshot, a non-profit organization that specializes in investigating audio evidence related to human rights and environmental issues. Their findings confirmed no signs of editing or manipulation in the clip. According to the report, “The possibility that the audio was artificially generated is extremely low.”
Earshot stated that the leaked conversation was likely recorded in a room with the phone on speaker mode, as it contained distinct telephonic frequencies and background noises. The audio includes Hasina instructing security forces to “use lethal weapons” and “shoot wherever they find them,” referring to demonstrators.
BBC reports that this recording is the most direct piece of evidence yet implicating Sheikh Hasina in the violent suppression of the mass protests that led to her removal and subsequent flight to India. The BBC obtained the recording from an undisclosed source and independently verified its authenticity through advanced audio forensic techniques, including Electric Network Frequency (ENF) analysis and vocal pattern matching.
The BBC also referenced findings by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police, which matched the leaked voice with Hasina’s known vocal prints.
Prominent British human rights lawyer Toby Cadman told the BBC, “These recordings are crucial in establishing her (Hasina’s) involvement. They are clear, well-substantiated, and corroborated by other evidence.”
The same report details the tragic events of August 5, 2024, in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area—the day Hasina was deposed and fled the country. That day marked one of the deadliest instances of police violence in Bangladesh’s history, with at least 52 killed, as verified through video footage, eyewitness accounts, and repeated visits to the site by BBC reporters.
One pivotal video, captured by protester Miraj Hossain—who was killed during the incident—showed the very moment police opened fire on demonstrators. The footage, recorded at 2:43 PM, shows chaos erupting as Jatrabari police unexpectedly began shooting from within their station. CCTV footage from a building across the street captured panicked demonstrators fleeing through narrow alleys. In another clip, officers are seen kicking injured protesters.
The BBC also debunked previously circulated viral videos falsely attributed to the August 5 massacre, confirming through metadata and analysis that they were from different dates.
Drone footage obtained by the BBC shows that the police operation lasted over 30 minutes. At 3:17 PM, police continued to fire at demonstrators on the main road outside the station. Protesters were later seen seeking refuge in a temporary army barrack nearby. The drone visuals show multiple bodies strewn on the highway, while injured protesters were rushed to hospitals on vans, rickshaws, and motorbikes.
Later that evening, in retaliation, some protesters reportedly set fire to the Jatrabari police station. At least six police officers were killed during the ensuing clashes.
BBC Eye’s comprehensive investigation underscores the scale of violence used against civilians during the July uprising and provides compelling evidence that orders for deadly force came from the highest level of the previous administration.
