‘We want to show law is equal for all’
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday reacted sharply to a defence plea that several army officers accused in two enforced disappearance cases be permitted to appear virtually.
It told the counsel that they should, instead, ask the government to withdraw the cases if the accused felt discomfort in appearing in person.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "We want to demonstrate that the law is equal for all. A former chief justice, an Appellate Division judge, senior ministers, a former secretary, and a former IGP are in custody, and all of them are appearing before the court regularly," said Tribunal Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
His remarks came after ABM Hamidul Mishbah, representing six of the 13 army officers taken to the tribunal yesterday, pleaded for exemption from physical appearance.
When asked to explain the grounds for the request, the lawyer said the reasons were stated in his application and he could elaborate if the tribunal wished.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam then suggested that a hearing on the plea could be fixed later.
Earlier, 13 detained officers were taken to the tribunal under heavy security involving BGB, Rab, and police personnel. They were later placed in the ICT lockup.
The officers are among 28 accused in the two cases. The other accused include deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.
They were charged over enforced disappearances, secret detention, and torture under the Awami League government between 2016 and 2024.
On October 22, 15 current and former accused officers were produced before the tribunal for the first time. That day, the tribunal ordered to publish notices in two national dailies, ordering fugitive accused to appear within seven days.
As the fugitives did not appear, the tribunal yesterday fixed December 3 for charge-framing hearing against 17 accused, 10 of whom were among the officers produced, over the alleged illegal confinement and torture of 14 people in the Rab-run Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) Cell.
In the other case involving alleged torture of 24 detainees in the DGFI-run Joint Interrogation Cell, the tribunal set December 7 for charge-framing hearing against 13 accused. Despite three officers linked to the JIC case were taken to the tribunal, they were not produced in the dock.
The names of Hasina and her defence adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique appear in both cases.
The tribunal will also hear the defence pleas for virtual appearance on the same dates.
PANNA TO 'DEFEND HASINA'
During the hearing, Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna expressed his willingness to serve as state defence counsel for Hasina.
"If you want to be appointed, we will appoint you," the tribunal chairman responded, adding that a previous attempt by Panna had not materialised because another lawyer had already been appointed and the proceedings had begun.
The tribunal also appointed M Hassan Imam as a state defence counsel for Kamal. At a press briefing, Tajul confirmed the developments.
Regarding criticism of the trial time of a case involving Hasina, the tribunal chairman said, "Some say the proceedings are hurried; others say they are delayed. But as the saying goes, 'justice hurried is justice buried, while justice delayed is justice denied'. This court has taken the time that was required."
Meanwhile, the tribunal also ordered authorities to immediately remove defamatory comments and digitally manipulated images of its judges circulating in the media and on social platforms.
Initiating a suo moto contempt proceeding, the tribunal yesterday observed that fabricated pictures and distorted statements about its judges were spreading widely, undermining the dignity of the court.
Citizens and the media, it said, enjoy the right to speak and criticise, but only within the bounds of the law and constitution.
The tribunal directed the information secretary and the BTRC chairman to ensure the removal of all derogatory content and instructed them to submit a compliance report by December 3.
On November 17, the tribunal sentenced Hasina and ex-home minister Kamal to death in a case, while former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was handed a five-year prison sentence.
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