Summary:
- Former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina allegedly ordered doctors at Dhaka’s Pangu Hospital to deny treatment and detain injured protesters during July 2024 anti-government demonstrations.
- Prosecutors claim death certificates for victims were falsified, with gunshot wounds listed as “suffocation,” and post-mortem reports systematically withheld under administrative pressure.
- The International Crimes Tribunal heard testimony that bodies were buried hastily to obscure evidence, with missing medical documents cited as proof of crimes against humanity.
- Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam stated hospital staff and patients provided evidence of Hasina’s direct involvement in obstructing medical care and documentation.
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) heard today that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allegedly directed doctors at Dhaka’s National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), commonly called Pangu Hospital, to withhold treatment and detain injured protesters during the July 2024 uprising. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam claimed authorities systematically suppressed evidence of fatal injuries while pursuing charges of crimes against humanity.
Prosecution Alleges “No Treatment, No Release” Policy
Islam told the tribunal that Hasina issued a “no treatment, no release” order during a visit to NITOR, citing interviews with hospital staff and patients. “Sheikh Hasina instructed doctors not to provide any treatment and not to allow anyone to leave. We have evidence of this information,” he stated. The prosecution alleges this policy aimed to obstruct documentation of injuries sustained during clashes between security forces and demonstrators.
Post-Mortem Reports Withheld, Death Certificates Altered
The tribunal raised concerns over missing autopsy reports and falsified death certificates for protesters killed in the unrest. Islam said hospitals failed to release records under administrative pressure, noting “several cases had no post-mortem examinations” despite victims dying from gunshot wounds. Doctors allegedly listed suffocation as the cause of death instead of trauma, even for those hospitalized with bullet injuries.
When ICT judges questioned the absence of critical documents, Islam argued the lack of evidence itself demonstrated systemic crimes. “Bodies were buried quickly, and medical treatment was obstructed. The absence of post-mortem reports proves intent to conceal atrocities,” he asserted.
Legal Proceedings and Context
Hasina, who was removed from office following the July protests, faces multiple charges at the ICT, which investigates war crimes and human rights violations. The prosecution’s claims align with broader allegations of state-backed violence during the 2024 anti-government demonstrations, which saw widespread reports of extrajudicial killings and medical suppression.
The tribunal has not yet ruled on the admissibility of the evidence. Court officials confirm the trial will resume after reviewing testimonies from NITOR staff and cross-examining procedural irregularities in death certifications.
