Prosecutor Mizanul Islam told Tribunal-1 that Sheikh Hasina herself had ordered the burning of Setu Bhaban, citing audio recordings of her conversation with Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.

However, he noted that instead of burning the specific targets she had mentioned, Setu Bhaban was set on fire. The tribunal also played other recordings, including Hasina’s conversations with JASAD president Hasanul Haq Inu and former Dhaka University VC ASM Maksud Kamal.

In the recordings, Inu assured Hasina that “no other government will come to power in Bangladesh” and urged her to use the opportunity to “break the backbone of Jamaat-Shibir” by arresting its members. Hasina reportedly agreed to the proposal.