‘Why did you release this?’ Call record unveils Quader rapped Harun for publishing photo of detained SAD coordinators
Prosecution presents the recording of an intercepted phone call at International Crimes Tribunal-2.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader had expressed his and party President Sheikh Hasina's annoyance over Harun-or-Rashid, the then chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB), publishing the photo showing six detained coordinators of Students Against Discrimination (SAD) eating with Harun in DB custody during the 2024 July Uprising.
The conversation came to light today (12 August) after the prosecution submitted the recording of an intercepted phone call between Quader and Harun at the International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2).
The call, recorded on 31 July 2024, was presented before ICT-2 today during the last day of closing arguments in the case against seven accused, including Quader, over crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising.
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Over the past few days, the prosecution has submitted as evidence multiple phone conversations of Quader that were recorded during the uprising.
According to the transcript submitted by the prosecution, Quader told Harun that Hasina was also annoyed by the publication of the photograph.
"At this moment, why did you have those pictures of them eating published?" Quader asked.
In response, Harun said the decision to arrange the meal and publish photographs had been made on instructions from the then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, the then Special Branch chief, and the then inspector general of police (IGP).
Harun also claimed that he had acted on instructions -- to release multiple photos of the detained SAD coordinators -- issued during meetings at the then home minister's residence.
"Whatever instruction the home minister gives... that is what I do," Harun said, according to the transcript.
Quader then asked about the six detainees and whether they were safe in custody.
"They are here, sir," Harun replied, adding that he was following decisions made by the home minister.
During the conversation, Harun also complained that senior officials were distancing themselves from the decisions and said he was facing pressure to leave the DB.
"What is my crime, sir?" Harun asked Quader repeatedly.
Quader told him that Hasina, the then prime minister, was portraying the matter as if Harun had acted on his own. "You did everything on your own," Quader said.
Harun rejected the claim, saying that whatever the authorities had done was carried out under instructions from the then home minister and the then IGP.
"We didn't do a single thing outside of that. You provide proof of this if you can," Harun said, prompting Quader to say that the aforementioned officials were not agreeing with Harun's version of events.
Harun further urged Quader to speak to Kamal, saying he was fearing that an order could otherwise be issued to remove him from the DB.
"Let me see. Let me talk to the home minister," Quader replied.
