TDS Desk:

Documents recovered from Sheikh Hasina’s former residence reveal that one of Britain’s most distinguished barristers, Desmond Browne KC, provided legal guidance to the ex-Bangladeshi prime minister’s government as it sought to counter allegations of corruption highlighted in an explosive Al Jazeera documentary, according to the British newspaper The Sunday Times.

The documentary, “All The Prime Minister’s Men,” detailed abuses of power and systemic corruption, sparking international fallout and US sanctions against senior Bangladeshi officials.

According to records obtained by The Sunday Times, Browne was approached in early 2021 by representatives of the Bangladesh High Commission in London.

This followed the release of the documentary, which exposed the misuse of police and paramilitary forces by General Aziz Ahmed, then-chief of the Bangladeshi Army, and his brother to target political rivals and amass illicit wealth.

The film, which garnered over 10 million views on YouTube, led to widespread criticism of Hasina’s administration, which dismissed the exposé as defamatory and politically biased.

The recovered documents, reportedly found amidst a trove of unexamined materials in Hasina’s abandoned residence, indicate that the High Commission sought Browne’s expertise to explore legal action in British courts against Al Jazeera and contributing journalists, including British investigative reporter David Bergman.

At the time, Bergman, a vocal critic of Hasina’s government, had relocated to London after being denied a visa renewal in Bangladesh.

During a virtual meeting on February 10, 2021, Browne advised Bangladeshi officials to retain a solicitor who could formally instruct him to proceed with defamation proceedings.

He recommended Jeremy Clarke-Williams, a legal expert in reputation management, who subsequently met with the officials, reads the news report.

Records suggest that the officials explored options to file defamation suits against individuals, institutions, and the documentary’s creators.

They even considered using third parties to initiate lawsuits on behalf of the Bangladeshi Army or the Prime Minister’s Office.

The documents also reveal troubling allegations that Hasina’s regime had plans to arrest Bergman in Bangladesh, accusing him of orchestrating the documentary.

Bergman, who had previously been convicted of contempt of court in Bangladesh, said he was unaware of any impending arrest until after Hasina’s fall from power during a student-led uprising last year.

While Browne confirmed his brief involvement, he said neither he nor Clarke-Williams took any further steps beyond initial consultations.

Invoking the “cab rank” rule—a professional obligation for barristers to accept clients regardless of their personal views—Browne defended his role, saying: “Barristers cannot refuse instructions solely on the grounds of disapproval of a client’s actions or beliefs.”

Ultimately, Hasina’s government abandoned plans for legal action in the UK, shifting its focus to pressuring YouTube and Facebook to remove the documentary.

Despite rulings from the High Court in Dhaka, both platforms declined to comply, leaving the documentary accessible worldwide.

The fallout from the documentary had far-reaching consequences. Aziz Ahmed and his brother faced sanctions from the Biden administration, while whistleblowers and contributors to the film endured threats, violence, and exile.

Hasina herself fled to India via helicopter during the July uprising, leaving behind her sprawling Dhaka residence, now secured by local authorities.