Journalist Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh, testified at a tribunal against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others in a war crimes case tied to the July uprising.

Rahman alleged that in 2008, then-Army Chief Moeen U. Ahmed struck a deal with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to bring the Awami League to power in exchange for job security and a safe exit.

He further claimed that Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and other Awami League leaders conspired in the 2009 BDR mutiny to weaken the army. “Awami fascism was carefully planned, with foreign powers involved,” Rahman told the tribunal.

So far, 45 witnesses have testified in the case against Hasina, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and Chowdhury Mamun. Separately, a tribunal in Ashulia begins hearing testimonies today in a murder and corpse-burning case.