‘Enemy of State’ Threat Issued to TV Channels Airing July Uprising Clash Footage

Bangla Press Desk:  A phone call presented in court suggests television channels airing footage of clashes or violence during the July Uprising were threatened with being declared “enemies of the state” and shut down permanently.The prosecution submitted the audio recording, alleged to be a conversation between Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and former state minister for information Mohammad Ali Arafat, as evidence in a crimes against humanity case tied to the 2024 movement on Monday.

It was presented on the fourth day of closing arguments before International Crimes Tribunal-2, in a case against Quader and six other Awami League leaders.

Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim presented the audio and laid out arguments before the three-member judicial panel headed by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury.

According to case documents, the call took place at 2pm on Jul 20, 2024, and lasted three minutes and 27 seconds.

The audio recording and its transcript, presented in court, capture a conversation between Quader and Arafat about controlling television broadcasts.

In the call, Quader is heard saying strict action would be taken against television channels that “don’t listen”.

Arafat responds that he had already shut down one or two channels the previous day and warned others.

Quader stresses that television channels should not air news of clashes.

Arafat then says he has instructed channels that showing footage of clashes or violence would see them declared “enemies of the state” and shut down permanently.

Arafat further says people have been stationed at Bangabandhu Satellite to shut down any channel immediately, without prior permission, the moment it airs images of clashes, adding that he had given “blanket permission” for this.

The call also touches on the protesters.

When Quader asks about the situation, Arafat says the quota reform protesters have split into two groups.

According to Arafat, one side comprises the quota-reform protesters, with whom talks are under way toward a resolution.

The other side, he says, is a “third party” made up of Jamaat-BNP “criminals” setting fires.

The formal minister says the curfew decision was primarily aimed at these Jamaat-BNP “criminals” and that this has now become their “narrative”.

Quader agrees with the assessment.

Toward the end of the call, Arafat says he has come to Ganabhaban after the discussion to receive instructions from “the leader” and is preparing for a briefing.

Quader says he has returned home and held a small briefing there.

He also raises the matter of arranging treatment for injured party leaders and activists, and Arafat promises to ensure medical care is arranged.

The conversation also mentions someone named “Biplob” who is likely to arrive.

Prosecutor Tamim presented the audio and arguments for the prosecution, alongside prosecutors Faruk Ahmed, Sultan Mahmud and Sahidul Islam Sardar.

Defence lawyers were also present at the tribunal.

Previously, another purported call between Quader and Awami League leaders and activists was submitted to the tribunal, in which prosecutors alleged Quader was heard inciting attacks on protesters.

The case, filed over crimes against humanity committed in the effort to suppress the July movement, names seven suspects, including Quader.

Prosecutors allege the suspects jointly issued directives, incited and provoked violence to suppress the movement in July and August, with some also allegedly involved in armed attacks, harsh crackdowns and controlling the media.

This led to killings and widespread violence nationwide, according to the prosecution.

A total of 28 witnesses, including the investigating officer, have testified in the case.

Closing arguments began at the tribunal on Aug 4.

The tribunal took formal cognisance of the prosecution’s charges on Dec 18 last year.

On Jan 22, charges were framed against the suspects, ordering the trial to begin.

Besides Quader, the six other fugitive accused in the case are Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister Arafat, Jubo League President Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain, and general secretary Wali Asif Inan.