A leading Human Rights group condemns Bangladesh ICT Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam for threatening a defence lawyer during an enforced disappearance hearing, demanding his dismissal, license revocation, and an international investigation into serious violations of fair-trial and human rights standards.
A major international human rights organisation has sharply condemned the Chief Prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Tajul Islam, for issuing direct threats to a defence lawyer during a recent court hearing on enforced disappearance cases. The incident, which the organisation described as “alarming, coercive, and incompatible with international justice standards,” has triggered calls for immediate disciplinary and legal action.
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights body monitoring judicial fairness in Bangladesh, issued a strong statement on Wednesday demanding the dismissal of Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam. The organisation also urged the Bangladesh Bar Council to revoke his license and called for an international, impartial investigation by a committee of global human rights experts.
According to JMBF, multiple verified media reports and independent sources confirm that the incident took place on November 23 during a hearing related to an enforced disappearance case involving Major General (Retd.) Ziaul Ahsan. During the proceedings, Ziaul Ahsan’s defence lawyer, Advocate Naznin Nahar, was allegedly threatened by the Chief Prosecutor, who reportedly warned her:
“Be quiet. Do not speak. You could also become an accused. We are receiving complaints against you from multiple sources.”
JMBF said this remark not only targeted the defence lawyer personally but also amounted to a direct attack on the core principles of judicial independence, professional legal rights, and due process.
Human Rights Group Raises Alarm Over “Coercive Environment”
The rights organisation said the incident represented a serious threat to the fair-trial process, stressing that defence lawyers must be allowed to operate without fear, intimidation or political pressure.
“Under international human rights and procedural law, both an accused person and their defence counsel have the inherent right to participate freely and safely in legal proceedings,” the JMBF statement read. “Threatening a defence lawyer inside a courtroom creates a coercive environment, violates essential justice principles, and exerts unlawful influence over ongoing judicial processes.”
The organisation urged Bangladeshi authorities to treat the matter as a grave violation that undermines the integrity of the entire justice system.
Concerns Over Unauthorised Interrogation and Psychological Pressure
Beyond the threats directed at the defence lawyer, JMBF expressed deep concern over another serious allegation: the participation of an unauthorised individual during the interrogation of the accused.
The organisation cited reports that Nabila Idris, a member of the Commission on Enforced Disappearances who is not part of the ICT prosecution team, allegedly joined the interrogation and issued a disturbing warning to the accused.
According to JMBF:
“She told him that if he did not answer the questions as desired, his daughter would become an orphan.”
The rights group described this statement as “a deliberate attempt to apply psychological pressure.” It said such tactics are unacceptable in any fair, impartial, or rights-respecting judicial system and violate the accused person’s fundamental protections.
Violation of Constitution and International Human Rights Law
JMBF warned that these incidents collectively represent clear breaches of:
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The Constitution of Bangladesh, which guarantees fair-trial rights and the independence of legal defence
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The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
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Established international standards on the treatment of detainees and the conduct of judicial proceedings
The organisation added that the ICT, which was originally formed to address historic crimes and deliver justice, must not itself become a tool of intimidation or political influence.
Call for International Oversight
JMBF urged the Government of Bangladesh, international human rights bodies, and global legal experts to ensure that a neutral investigation is launched without delay. The group said that only a transparent inquiry conducted by an independent international panel can restore confidence in the judicial process.
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The statement concluded that justice systems must not only deliver justice but must also be seen as fair, accountable, and free from coercion. Any attempt to silence defence lawyers or threaten accused individuals or their families undermines the very foundations of justice.
