Mahmudur Rahman, the editor of Amar Desh and a key witness at the International Crimes Tribunal, compared former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Adolf Hitler. He said her rule was marked by corruption, killings, and fascism, and warned future governments not to repeat her mistakes.
Mahmudur Rahman’s Statement at Tribunal
On Tuesday (16 September 2025), Mahmudur Rahman spoke to journalists at a press briefing on the premises of the International Crimes Tribunal. He referred to the July-August violence, where over 1,400 people were killed, as crimes against humanity.
He compared Sheikh Hasina to Adolf Hitler and said her political style surpassed Hitler in brutality.
“নিজ দেশে কমিউনিস্ট ও ইহুদিদের ওপর গণহত্যা চালিয়েছিলেন হিটলার। কয়েক মিলিয়ন জার্মান নাগরিককে হত্যা করা হয়েছিল। তখন গোটা বিশ্ব বলেছিল, আর যেন এমন দানবের আগমন না ঘটে। নেভার এগেইন বলার উদ্দেশ্যই ছিল এ ধরনের গণহত্যা কখনো যেন আর না হয়। সেই প্রেক্ষাপট থেকেই বলেছি শেখ হাসিনাও একজন ছোটখাটো হিটলার ছিলেন।”
Translation:
“Hitler carried out genocide against Communists and Jews in his own country. Millions of German citizens were killed. The whole world then said such a monster should never return again. The purpose of saying ‘Never Again’ was to ensure such genocide never happens again. From that context, I said Sheikh Hasina was also a mini-Hitler.”
Hasina’s Mentality Compared to Hitler
Mahmudur Rahman argued that Sheikh Hasina’s mindset was even worse than Hitler’s because she allegedly ordered killings and then made the dead bodies disappear.
“হিটলারের মতো শেখ হাসিনার ক্ষমতা ছিল না। কিন্তু মানসিকতায় তাকে ছাড়িয়ে গেছেন তিনি। কেননা মানুষ হত্যার পর লাশ গুম করে ফেলার কথা হিটলারও কোনোদিন বলেননি। কাজেই মানসিক দিক থেকে হিটলারকে ছাড়িয়ে গিয়েছিলেন হাসিনা।”
Translation:
“Hasina did not have the same power as Hitler, but in mentality, she surpassed him. Even Hitler never ordered that dead bodies should be disappeared after killings. So, in terms of mindset, Hasina went beyond Hitler.”
Warning to Future Governments
He urged the upcoming governments not to repeat the mistakes of Hasina’s regime.
“আমি পরবর্তী সরকারগুলোকে সতর্ক করে বলেছি, শেখ হাসিনার কাছ থেকে শিক্ষা নেবেন। তাদের দুষ্কর্ম থেকে শিক্ষা নেবেন। যেভাবে তারা রাষ্ট্রকে ধ্বংসের পাশাপাশি দুর্নীতি করেছে, তা থেকে পরবর্তী সরকারের শিক্ষা নেওয়া উচিত।”
Translation:
“I have warned the next governments to take lessons from Sheikh Hasina. They should learn from her misdeeds. Just as they destroyed the state and committed corruption, the next governments should learn from these wrongs.”
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Reference to Global Reports
Mahmudur Rahman mentioned the Al Jazeera documentary All the Prime Minister’s Men, which highlighted corruption and abuses of power involving Sheikh Hasina, her associates, and military officials. He linked these events with fascist regimes in history, such as Mussolini and Hitler, and said Hasina’s 15 years of rule represented fascism in Bangladesh.
Call for Justice
He emphasized the need for justice for victims of the July movement. Around 1,400 families lost their children, and over 20,000 were injured. Mahmudur Rahman said justice should be served so that no fascist regime returns to Bangladesh again.
“বাংলাদেশেও শেখ হাসিনার ১৫ বছরের চরম দুর্নীতিপরায়ণ ও মানবতাবিরোধী শাসন হয়েছিল। সেই পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে জনগণের প্রত্যাশা হলো আর যেন কখনো আমাদের দেশে এমন ফ্যাসিবাদী শাসনের প্রত্যাবর্তন না ঘটে।”
Translation:
“In Bangladesh too, there was a 15-year corrupt and anti-humanitarian rule under Sheikh Hasina. In that context, the people’s expectation is that such a fascist regime should never return to our country.”
Tribunal Proceedings
The testimony of Mahmudur Rahman began at around 11:45 am. Later, lawyers representing Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal cross-examined him. However, as the cross-examination could not be completed, the tribunal adjourned until the next day.
The tribunal session was conducted by Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and other prosecutors including Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim.
Source: Ittefaq
