The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today (June 25) adjourned until July 2 the hearing on a contempt of court allegation brought against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader Shakil Akand Bulbul.
The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder passed the order, allowing a time plea filed by amicus curiae senior advocate AY Moshiuzzaman, reports BSS.
Meanwhile, Advocate Aminul Gani Tipu, who was appointed as the state defence counsel to defend the case of Sheikh Hasina and Bulbul, today withdrew his name from the post, citing conflict of interest as reason.
The tribunal subsequently appointed Advocate Amir Hossain as his replacement. The court on June 19 appointed senior jurist AY Moshiuzzaman amicus curiae in the case.
"As both accused remained absent in spite of publishing notice in newspapers for their appearance, the court today appointed an amicus curiae for the sake of transparency of the trial," prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said.
The prosecution filed the complaint against the two over the former premier's telephonic conversation, where she was heard saying she has got license to kill 227 people already. The tribunal, accepting the complaint, asked the two to submit their explanations on May 15.
As they failed to submit their explanations, the tribunal asked them to appear on May 25. But as they refrained from appearing on that day too, it ordered to publish a notice on two national dailies, asking Sheikh Hasina and Shakil Akand Bulbul to appear before it on June 3.
The notices were published on May 26, summoning the former premier and Bulbul to provide explanations regarding a contempt of court application filed against them by the tribunal’s prosecution.
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
