Dhaka: The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today appointed an amicus curiae in the ongoing hearing of a contempt of court allegation against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader Shakil Akand Bulbul.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the three-member ICT panel, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, appointed senior jurist AY Moshiuzzaman as the amicus curiae for the case. Additionally, Advocate Aminul Gani Tipu has been appointed as the state defense counsel, as stated by prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim.
The tribunal has decided to adjourn the hearing until June 25. Prosecutor Tamim emphasized that the appointment of an amicus curiae was crucial for ensuring the transparency of the trial, especially since both accused parties have remained absent despite notices being published in newspapers requesting their appearance.
The prosecution initiated the complaint following a telephonic conversation involving the former premier, where she allegedly claimed to have a "license to kill 227 people already." The tribunal, upon accepting the complaint, initially demanded explanations from both Hasina and Bulbul by May 15.
Failure to provide the requested explanations led the tribunal to summon them for an appearance on May 25. After their absence on the specified date, a notice was subsequently published in two national dailies, daily Jugantor and daily New Age, on May 26. This notice summoned Sheikh Hasina and Shakil Akand Bulbul to appear before the tribunal on June 3 to address the contempt of court application filed against them by the prosecution.