Former ICT chief prosecutor Tajul rejects corruption allegations

He says no evidence exists to support the charges and calls the allegations a “coordinated attempt” to derail trials

Recently removed chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam has said the allegations of corruption levelled against him while serving at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) are “false”.

He issued a written statement in both Bengali and English on Tuesday.

It comes a day after the newly elected government replaced Tajul with Md Aminul Islam as chief prosecutor.

On the same day prosecution member BM Sultan Mahmud publicly accused fellow prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim of financial irregularities on social media.

In his statement, Tajul said: “Over the last two days, certain media outlets and social platforms have spread false and malicious information about me, attributed to a prosecution member.”

He described the allegations as “malicious, entirely false, and unfounded”.

“The allegations made by the Prosecutor are entirely false, baseless, and intended to undermine the integrity of the ICT trials. They are devoid of any substance and are categorically denied. No one can produce any evidence in support of these unfounded allegations of corruption against me.”

“In my capacity as Chief Prosecutor, I have always acted in a transparent manner and strictly in accordance with law,” he added.

Tajul, who served as a lawyer for the Jamaat-e-Islami leaders during previous tribunal proceedings under the Awami League government, also holds the post of joint convenor of Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party).

Following the July Uprising that toppled the Awami League government, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government restructured the tribunal, appointing Tajul as chief prosecutor.

Allegations from Sultan Mahmud, highlighted via a Facebook post titled “Settling business at the tribunal: Why is Tajul Islam being removed?”, claimed irregularities in handling witnesses in several cases.

Among them are:

• An incident involving Afzal’s wife entering Tamim’s room during the Ashulia case, which Sultan Mahmud says was mishandled.
• Use of certain witnesses instead of charging suspects despite evidence, including the Chankharpul and Rangpur cases.
• Decisions regarding former IG Abdullah Al Mamun allegedly prolonged trials and denied justice.

Responding to these claims, Tajul said: “The allegations of corruption appear to be an attempt to divert attention from the pending and concluded ICT trials of members of the deposed regime accused of crimes against humanity.

“Such conduct amounts to interference with the ICT trial process. It may be mentioned that no such allegations were raised against me whilst I was holding the post of Chief Prosecutor.

“It is only after my departure that such baseless allegations are being made to unlawfully benefit perpetrators of crimes against humanity by discrediting the entire trial process.”

Tajul urged all concerned to refrain from “making, publishing, or disseminating such false allegations of corruption” against him, as they may “adversely affect” the ICT trials.

Tamim told bdnews24.com that the allegations were “personally motivated”.

“In criminal jurisprudence worldwide, approving witnesses is part of the prosecution’s credit and process. Here, allegations are being twisted, claiming wrongdoing where none exists.”