Amnesty International has called on the interim government of Bangladesh to consider referring all incidents of human rights violations that occurred between July 1 and August 15, 2024, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) under Article 14 of the Rome Statute.
The call came from Amnesty International South Asia on Wednesday, following the publication of an investigative report by the BBC.
The report analyzed a leaked audio clip, which allegedly indicates that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina ordered the use of live ammunition to suppress protests.
In a statement published on its official South Asia Facebook page, Amnesty International said the BBC’s findings presented new evidence suggesting that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina gave orders for the deadly crackdown during protests in July and August 2024.
Based on this, the organization reiterated its demand that those responsible for the violence must be held accountable.
The statement referenced a United Nations fact-finding report published in February 2025, which claimed that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed during the protests.
Most of these deaths were reportedly caused by lethal metal pellets fired from military rifles and shotguns typically used by Bangladeshi security forces. In addition, thousands of people were left with severe injuries, many of which may have lifelong consequences.
Amnesty International stressed the need for impartial and independent investigations into each incident of human rights violations that occurred between July 1 and August 15 in Bangladesh.
It stated that regardless of whether individuals directly committed the violence or issued the orders, all perpetrators must face justice through an international-standard judicial process that excludes the death penalty.
Echoing the recommendations made in the UN report, Amnesty International strongly urged the interim government to take steps to refer these incidents to the International Criminal Court under Article 14 of the Rome Statute.