A bombshell complaint has exposed alleged corruption at the heart of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). BM Sultan Mahmud, a sitting prosecutor, accuses ex-chief Mohammad Tajul Islam and aide Ghazi Monawar Hussain Tamim of running a syndicate that monetized the chief prosecutor’s office.
Recounting a July 2024 protest-related case, Sultan says Abzal’s wife met Tamim in his room, yet no action followed his report—instead, he faced rebuke. Tamim confessed to the meeting before witnesses. Broader irregularities include manipulated witness lists and accused designations, with Sultan citing video proof.
The Chankarpul shooting, claiming six lives, features damning footage of Sub-Inspector Ashraful directing fire, yet he became a prosecution witness. In Rangpur’s Abu Saeed killing, Al Imran Hussain was removed from proceedings despite court evidence against him. Even ex-IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was oddly elevated to state witness status.
Tajul hit back at a press conference, labeling the claims false and motivated by grudges, backed by internal probes. Meanwhile, Aminul Islam assumed ICT chief prosecutor duties Monday, succeeding Tajul, who was installed post-Hasina by Yunus’s administration.
Tajul’s time in office saw the tribunal mired in controversy, with procedural flaws sparking international concern. Sultan’s revelations could trigger formal inquiries, shaking faith in Bangladesh’s pursuit of 1971 war crimes justice amid recent regime change.