A prosecutor at the International Crimes Tribunal has leveled serious accusations of corruption and misconduct against Tajul Islam, the former chief prosecutor, and his colleague Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim. The prosecutor, BM Sultan Mahmud, took to Facebook to outline several irregularities, such as financial transactions and questionable handling of significant cases.
One incident mentioned in the post occurred in late November last year, where the wife of a defendant in a case involving the killing and burning of six bodies in Ashulia was seen entering Tamim’s office carrying a heavy bag. Sultan Mahmud claimed that upon informing Tajul Islam about the incident, no action was taken, and they were reprimanded instead.
The post further detailed how the defendant’s wife later visited Tamim’s office, leading to questions from the chief prosecutor but no further action. Sultan also raised concerns about a case involving law enforcement firing on protesters, where a video allegedly showed a police officer instructing the firing, yet he was made a witness instead of an accused.
Additionally, Sultan questioned the removal of Assistant Police Commissioner Al Imran Hossain from a particular case and criticized the inclusion of former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun as a state witness without justification. He alleged a syndicate involving several individuals, including IGP Mamun and Abzal, engaging in corrupt practices.
Sultan accused Tajul Islam and Shishir Monir of allowing notorious police officers to escape trial, turning the chief prosecutor’s office into a means of making money. He posed questions about the integrity of these actions and their impact on the memory of martyrs.
In response to these allegations, Tajul Islam dismissed them as personal attacks and baseless claims, emphasizing the transparency of the tribunal’s proceedings. Similarly, Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim denied the accusations, attributing them to personal vendettas and maintaining his innocence.
Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir labeled the allegations as unbelievable and speculative, urging for credible information to be disclosed publicly. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam stated he would address any formal complaints regarding corruption allegations, deferring further inquiries for a more suitable time.