Advocate Tazul Islam, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, has announced plans to bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the main accused in a genocide case, through a prisoner exchange agreement to face trial.
He made the statement during a briefing at the International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday (September 8) after assuming his new role. Prosecutors Gazi M.H. Tamim and B.M. Sultan Mahmud were also present at the briefing.
Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam emphasized that preserving evidence of the genocide before it deteriorates is the first priority, which will be crucial for presenting during the trial. He also stressed the importance of alerting the relevant authorities to prevent the accused from fleeing abroad.
He called upon students, the public, and affected individuals to ensure that all forms of evidence reach the investigation agency or prosecution. Tazul Islam further assured that the trial would be conducted in such a way that the families of martyrs, victims, plaintiffs, and even the defendants would feel that justice has been served. He stated, "There will be no oppression against anyone, nor will anyone be spared."
Regarding the arrest of the accused, he noted that the severity of the crimes would necessitate the arrest of the suspects during the investigation phase. "We will certainly seek the arrest of the criminals," he said. "Our primary effort will be to ensure that potential offenders do not escape the court's jurisdiction. We will work to prevent that."
On the issue of amending laws, Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam remarked, "We have just assumed responsibility. We will sit with the government to discuss and decide on these matters."
Earlier, on Saturday (September 7), the Ministry of Law issued a notification appointing Advocate Tazul Islam, a Supreme Court lawyer, as Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal for conducting cases stemming from the July Movement that brought down the last autocratic government.