Videos reveal new incidents of deadly brutality by Bangladesh police
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Exclusive: ‘Grotesque’ footage shows previously undocumented incidents on day PM Sheikh Hasina fled country. Bangladeshi police killed or injured at least 20 unarmed protesters in two previously undocumented incidents during the demonstrations that engulfed the country last year, according to newly examined video footage.
![[Sheikh Hasina pictured in February 2024]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/df0d0c5c4ae2ebf1da1495210387adccba2c7606/0_0_5500_3300/master/5500.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), a rights group that documents alleged abuses, has analysed video footage of two incidents in Dhaka on 5 August – the day that Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country – and found evidence that officers deliberately targeted peaceful civilians.
![[Footage shows evidence of police violence on day Bangladesh prime minister fled the country – video]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8dda6a9fe8515476f64fca0e6afad4d1b5003195/0_0_1920_1080/1920.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The findings add to growing evidence of police brutality in the final days of Hasina’s regime as officers tried to violently crush the protests, killing more than 1,000 civilians, which eventually cost her her premiership. Callum Macrae, the film-maker who analysed the videos, called them “extraordinary, chilling” and “grotesque”. He added: “It is quite clear from the footage that the police were under no threat and did not believe they were under any threat. They had absolutely no justification in law for using lethal violence against any of the protesters.
![[Footage shows Mohammed Riddoy's encounter with police during the protests – video]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/35a8e4462ce03e0f3e744a38fc17eb3c3bbfb4b4/0_0_1920_1080/1920.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
“The film makes clear how important it is that there is an independent judicial truth and justice process which can have the confidence of the Bangladeshi people,” he said. Yasmin Sooka, the executive director of the ITJP and a former member of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said: “Considering that the protesters were unarmed and that there were a number of civilians besides the students it is absolutely shocking that the police used live ammunition against the students and the protesters. It’s horrific when you see the brutality of the violence.”.
