Quader-Arafat call reveals threat to shut TV channels during July Uprising, tribunal receives recording

The prosecution has submitted a recorded phone conversation between ousted government's Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and former Information State Minister Mohammad A Arafat to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

In the conversation, the two allegedly discussed threatening television channels with closure if they did not follow the government's instructions during the July movement.

The prosecution will present arguments for the fourth consecutive day today (10 August) in the case against seven accused, including Obaidul Quader, over crimes against humanity.

The phone conversation will be presented during the arguments before a three-member ICT-2, led by Justice Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.

In the conversation, Quader says, "Those who do not listen, strict action against TV channels..."

Arafat replies that two or three channels had been switched off the previous day and that he had instructed that channels not following orders be switched off immediately.

Quader says there should be no reports of clashes that day.

Arafat says channels showing footage or images of clashes would be declared "enemies of the state" and shut down permanently.

He also says arrangements had been made through Bangabandhu Satellite to monitor television channels and switch them off immediately if they showed images of clashes.

The other accused are AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Mohammad Ali Arafat, Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Saddam Hossain and Sheikh Wali Asif Enan.