Dhaka, July 12, 2025 —The Voice News
The ruling Awami League has issued a sharp rebuttal to a recent BBC World Service documentary that scrutinizes the government’s handling of the deadly protests during the political turmoil of July and August 2024. In an official statement, the party expressed “deep sorrow” over the tragic loss of life but called the BBC’s portrayal “unjustified,” “ill-timed,” and “irresponsible.”
The statement categorically denies that senior Awami League leaders, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had issued or directed any orders to use lethal force against demonstrators. “The decisions made at the time by senior government officials were proportionate, taken in good faith, and aimed at preventing precisely the lawlessness we now see unfolding,” the statement said.
The BBC documentary reportedly features an audio recording attributed to Sheikh Hasina. While the recording’s authenticity remains unverified, the Awami League contends its contents are being sensationalized and do not include any explicit order to use illegitimate force. “The language in the recording in no way amounts to any specific order,” the statement reads, further criticizing the BBC for airing the report amid ongoing politically sensitive legal proceedings.
The party accuses the BBC of disregarding legal and journalistic standards, suggesting the broadcaster would not have aired a similar piece if related proceedings were underway in the UK.
Rejecting claims that the political leadership ordered the shootings, the statement says that operational decisions were made independently by the security forces on the ground. “For the most part, the security forces behaved proportionately and acted in accordance with police protocols,” it says, though it concedes that “discipline did regrettably break down in some instances.”
The statement also defends the Prime Minister’s overall record, citing her government’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and her leadership in offering refuge to Rohingya fleeing genocide in Myanmar. It emphasizes her “appropriate restraint” and commitment to constitutional duties during the unrest.
Claims of Omitted Context
The Awami League criticized the BBC for omitting critical context and failing to acknowledge the violence faced by police and government institutions. The statement claims that during the Jatrabari incident, police officers fired only after being abandoned by the army and physically threatened by mobs. It points out that two officers were lynched near Jatrabari in the days leading up to the shooting—an incident the BBC allegedly ignored.
The party also decried the lack of coverage of attacks on parliamentarians, hospitals, museums, and minority communities, as well as the deaths of 44 police officers during the unrest—information that appeared only in the documentary’s closing credits.
Call for Impartial Investigation
Despite its criticisms, the Awami League says it would welcome a “truly impartial investigation” into all political violence over the past year. This includes the initial protests, as well as “ongoing, often overlooked acts of political violence targeting Awami League supporters since 15 August.”
The party concludes with a call for justice for all victims, regardless of political affiliation. “All such acts must be subject to thorough and unbiased scrutiny,” it says, demanding accountability for attacks on police, minorities, journalists, and activists.
The BBC has not yet publicly responded to the Awami League’s statement.
