Paris, Nov 26: A prominent international human rights organisation has sharply condemned the recent public threats made by Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) against the defence lawyer of an accused during a hearing on enforced disappearance cases. Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has called for stringent action, including his immediate removal from office.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, JMBF demanded Tajul Islam’s dismissal from the ICT, the cancellation of his licence by the Bangladesh Bar Council, and exemplary punishment following a transparent investigation by an independent committee comprising international human rights experts.
The organisation cited multiple verified newspaper reports and credible sources documenting the incident. According to JMBF, during a hearing on November 23, Tajul Islam openly threatened Naznin Nahar, the defence lawyer representing Major General (Retd.) Ziaul Ahsan in an enforced disappearance case. Tajul reportedly told her: “Be quiet. Do not speak. You could also become an accused. We are receiving complaints against you from multiple sources.”
JMBF expressed serious concern, stating that such threats not only intimidate a defence lawyer but also undermine the integrity of the court, compromise judicial transparency, and violate fundamental human rights. The rights body noted that international laws guarantee the accused and their legal representatives the right to operate without fear, pressure, or intimidation—rights that were clearly breached in this instance.
The organisation further highlighted another troubling development. During the interrogation of Major General (Retd.) Ziaul Ahsan, Nabila Idris, a member of the Commission on Enforced Disappearances who is not part of the prosecution team, allegedly participated and warned the accused that if he did not respond “as desired,” his daughter would “become an orphan.” JMBF described this as an unacceptable and deliberate act of psychological coercion.
JMBF asserted that the combined actions—threats from the Chief Prosecutor, interference by an unauthorised individual, and intimidation involving a minor—constitute violations of the Constitution of Bangladesh, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and international judicial standards. The organisation urged immediate corrective measures to protect the rule of law and judicial independence in Bangladesh.
