Fears of a sudden strike
- Mass killing perpetrators’ suspicious movements
The perpetrators of genocide could strike at any moment — this is not merely a prediction circulating among ordinary people on social media, but a warning issued by Mr. Mohammad Aminul Islam, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal. He issued this warning regarding the criminal network linked to enforced disappearances and killings during the era of the banned Awami League and the fascist Hasina government, adding that there is no reason to consider these criminals as friends. He said that whenever investigations into enforced disappearances begin, the activity of certain criminals also increases, and called on law enforcement agencies to exercise greater caution in the interest of justice. He said that investigations have begun, treating the 251 cases of enforced disappearance nationwide during the Awami League government’s rule as crimes against humanity, and that members of the victims’ families are gradually providing testimony one by one — which is why their security is being closely monitored. However, he said, there is no reason to consider the accused as friends, since they could strike at any time, and they are working with this in mind.
He said the administration needs to keep watch over those currently on trial before the tribunal, as well as over each family of disappearance victims, in order to further strengthen their security. He said the movements and activities of some of the accused have appeared suspicious, and that there is confidential information suggesting that some of the accused could carry out sabotage or subversive acts. Asked by a journalist why the word “sabotage” had come up more frequently over the past week, the Chief Prosecutor said that every activity, inside and outside the tribunal, is under close surveillance, so any attempt at subversive activity by anyone would be self-destructive.
Given the current stage of the trial of those on whose cruelty the death-sentenced Sheikh Hasina built her fascist rule, the Chief Prosecutor’s warning suggests something more. Analysts believe this warning is not a mere guess by an ordinary person but a specific, deliberate, formal concern from the chief legal officer of the International Crimes Tribunal, who must have some advance information on which this warning is based — a matter not just of concern but of the utmost threat to the national security situation. The defiant conduct of former army officer Mr. Ziaul Ahsan, known as “Hasina’s Butcher,” now facing trial — his laughter, mockery, and overconfident demeanor in the dock, eating food brought from home while in custody, and cutting a cake to celebrate his birthday in jail — all seem to carry particular significance.
Under the label of “militants,” many innocent people were killed and their bodies disappeared during Hasina’s rule — bodies bagged with a revolver held to the head and thrown into the Shitalakkhya, Buriganga, and the distant Baleshwar rivers, and hundreds of bodies left on railway tracks after killings — such gruesome and brutal accounts have emerged in the testimony of witnesses in Hasina-era enforced disappearance and murder cases. Meanwhile, Mr. Ziaul Ahsan stands in the dock unrepentant and defiant. Former tribunal prosecutor Mr. Mohammad Tajul Islam had, on November 20, 2024, compared Mr. Ziaul Ahsan to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s “Butcher,” Mr. Radovan Karadžić.
About two months ago, the current Chief Prosecutor Mr. Aminul Islam also presented information on Mr. Ziaul Ahsan’s brutality, citing witness testimony before the tribunal. He said Mr. Ziaul Ahsan’s gang ran a killing operation spanning Bangladesh and India — capturing alleged accused persons and laying them on whole sacks of cement, placing another sack on top of the person, tying another accused to it with rope, then shooting them in the head and throwing the bodies into the river, cutting open the stomach and removing the intestines so the body would not float. He said hundreds of such killings were attributed to this Ziaul. Yet this same cruel Ziaul Ahsan, now facing trial, displays no remorse. Despite being a common accused in serious and sensitive cases, his demeanor shows no sign of remorse, which is further deepening the anger of victims’ families and the general public. Analysts believe that the main purpose behind such defiant behavior from criminals like Ziaul is to create psychological pressure on witnesses and victims’ families so that they become afraid to testify before the tribunal.
Such behavior by this notorious criminal is not confined to the tribunal dock alone. Chief Prosecutor Mr. Aminul Islam provided information that he celebrated his own birthday by cutting a cake in the detention cell, and brought rice in a tiffin carrier to share with others there. On September 3, giving this information about Mr. Ziaul Ahsan, he said there have been allegations that Mr. Ziaul cuts cake in the tribunal’s holding cell, and further allegations that he brings rice in a tiffin carrier and eats with everyone there. Earlier that day, Major General (retd.) Mr. Ziaul Ahsan was produced before the tribunal in a crimes-against-humanity case concerning the enforced disappearance and killing of hundreds of people during Hasina’s rule. While being taken from the prison van to the tribunal’s holding cell, he was seen wearing a vest, and that day was the first time handcuffs were seen on him — previously, he had not been handcuffed when produced.
Chief Prosecutor Mr. Aminul Islam said the reason for now handcuffing him is that the prosecution has received information that Mr. Ziaul Ahsan could carry out an act of sabotage, and that he does not follow rules and discipline while in the lock-up, where he cuts cake and brings rice in a tiffin carrier to eat with everyone. He said there are also allegations against Mr. Ziaul Ahsan’s sister, Advocate Ms. Nazneen Nahar, of discourteous behavior toward police. He said that when these allegations came to their attention, the matter was reported to the tribunal’s Registrar General in the interest of ensuring the tribunal’s security, and that the prosecution’s office has taken initiatives to increase security at the tribunal.
The question is: is this heightened security only for Mr. Ziaul Ahsan? Other accused in last year’s crimes-against-humanity cases are also showing extreme contempt toward the trial process. Mr. Junaid Ahmed Palak, accused in the killing of hundreds of students, children, and ordinary citizens, has repeatedly flashed the “V” sign while being brought to the tribunal, been seen singing while getting off the prison van, and shouted slogans in support of the Awami League and Hasina while boarding the van. Some accused wave and smile provocatively while being taken in and out of the prison van, and some have even issued threats such as “we will return.” Rather than pursuing legal defense, many of the accused appear to be using the dock and court premises as a platform for political propaganda.
Several army officers are accused in two separate cases of enforced disappearance, murder, torture, and other crimes against humanity during Hasina’s rule. Three of them served as Directors General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) during Hasina’s tenure, while others held responsible positions in the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC). A special air-conditioned van has been used to transport 13 army officers accused in these two cases to and from the tribunal. One of them, former BGB Director General and army officer Major General (retd.) Mr. Redwanul Karim, requested a long adjournment date at the tribunal on August 20. Several media outlets seen as sympathetic to Hasina highlighted, as a “human story,” his claim of not having enough money to pay his lawyer’s fee, running headlines such as “Should I pay my lawyer or run my household with my salary?” — coverage widely seen as showing contempt for the International Crimes Tribunal and violating basic decorum. Some accused are frequently seen eating food brought from home in tiffin carriers while sitting in the holding cell.
Earlier, on June 30, while being taken up to the tribunal dock, Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu, Hasina’s former Information Minister known as her “Goebbels,” raised his finger and reprimanded police personnel, warning them not to touch his body. Fascism-sympathetic media outlets have also run “package” coverage sensationalizing trivial matters aimed at generating sympathy, such as the visit of accused Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu’s wife to see him, or Dr. Deepu Moni’s visit with her then-ailing (now deceased) husband. Rather than presenting detailed accounts of the brutality of the enforced disappearances, killings, and last year’s July genocide as described by witnesses, a notable and subtle tactic among fascism-sympathetic media has been to broadcast lengthy statements from defense lawyers and screen footage favorable to the accused.
Instead of highlighting the prolonged fascism and Hasina’s July brutality, the strategy of loyalist media outlets to keep “Hasina’s return in December” a relevant talking point is stirring public anger — because during Awami League rule, many religious scholars, madrasa students, and numerous BNP-Jamaat politicians and other political figures were seen being brought to court in handcuffs and leg-irons without trial on politically motivated harassment cases. Many BNP and Chhatra Dal leaders were seen attending their parents’ funerals in handcuffs and leg-irons during that time. In contrast, an entirely opposite picture is being observed in the cases of Mr. Ziaul Ahsan and Hasina’s accomplices in murder — and this apparent liberality is also causing public disappointment.
