Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal are not personally liable for offences committed during the July uprising, Amir Hossain, their state-appointed defence counsel, told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday.

Placing closing arguments for the second consecutive day, he also dismissed the prosecution's charges as unproven and said the prosecution's call for maximum punishment is unacceptable.

Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who has turned approver, is the third accused in the case.

As the tribunal referred to the killings of 1,500 people and the wounding of over 25,000 during the July uprising, the lawyer said, "It was the personal responsibility of police personnel. The prime minister cannot take responsibility for individuals' actions."

He also claimed that his clients did not commit any crimes against humanity.

The lawyer argued that drones were used to identify large crowds to prevent destruction and loss of life, and deployment of helicopters does not mean that those were used to shoot protesters.

"There is no evidence to suggest people were specifically targeted and killed from helicopters," he said.

On Hasina's phone calls, Amir questioned its authenticity, noting that the CID's forensic test lacked international validation. The tribunal cited a BBC report confirming the call's authenticity, but Amir insisted, "The CID report should have been cross-checked."

He also cited official records stating that 3,11,000 bullets were fired nationwide during the uprising, including 95,313 in Dhaka. Thousands of police personnel were deployed against protesters, yet the number of deaths was relatively low.

The tribunal said, "About 1,500 people were killed and 25,000 to 35,000 seriously injured. Is it a small number?"

Amir replied, "These were individual actions."

In response, tribunal Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder said, "Many have said shots were fired from helicopters. The bullet trajectories were downwards."

The chairman referred to Hasina's alleged phone conversation -- "Use the helicopter this time, fire from above".

Tribunal member Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood added, "The prosecution said that in the audio recording, Hasina is heard ordering the use of lethal weapons and gunfire from helicopters."

Amir then said, "Such a claim can only be proven if the bullets retrieved from the bodies match the weapons used on the helicopters."