India, July 9 -- Ousted former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina had authorised the deadly crackdown on students during the July-August Uprising last year, which eventually led to her collapse, a leaked phone call has revealed.

The phone call was verified by BBC.

In the audio, which was leaked online in March, Hasina says she authorised her security forces to "use lethal weapons" against protesters and that "wherever they find [them], they will shoot", BBC reported.

Hasina was at her residence in Dhaka, known as the Ganabhaban, for the duration of the call which took place on 18 July, a source with knowledge of the leaked audio told the BBC.

It was a crucial moment in the demonstrations. Security officials were responding to public outrage ...