By Aminul Hoque Polash The recent removal of Muhammad Tajul Islam from the post of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) marks a long-overdue reckoning with one of the most egregious abuses of judicial power in Bangladesh’s recent history.
Appointed under the illegitimate interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, Tajul’s tenure transformed what should have been a solemn process of justice into a grotesque parody of accountability.
From Defender Of War Criminals to Mastermind Of Political Vendetta
Tajul Islam’s background reveals a clear pattern of ideological alignment and opportunism. During his time as a student at Rajshahi University, he was active with Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. He later became deeply involved in Jamaat politics. When Barrister Abdur Razzaq, the principal defense lawyer for Jamaat’s accused war criminals before the ICT-BD, broke away with a faction to form the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party in 2018, Tajul joined as its joint convener.
Notably, AB Party’s key patrons and supporters included figures such as Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Dr. Asif Nazrul, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Farhad Mazhar, Shahidul Alam, Zonayed Saki, Zafar Sobhan, Mahmudur Rahman, Pinaki Bhattacharya, and others.
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Tajul previously served as a defense lawyer for Jamaat leaders accused of war crimes at the same tribunal he would later lead as prosecutor.
Revenge Masquerading As Justice
The reconstituted ICT-BD, under the Yunus-led interim regime, initiated trials for alleged “genocide” during the July 2024 uprisingโtargeting Awami League leaders, freedom fighters, police, army personnel, and others. These proceedings, which have dragged on for over 16 months, were never about genuine justice. Instead, they served as political revenge for the earlier prosecution and conviction of 1971 war criminals affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami.
What unfolded was nothing short of a kangaroo court: a sham process that flagrantly violated natural justice, due process, and human rights. It stands as a shameful precedent of state-sponsored abuse under the guise of law. Those responsibleโincluding Tajul and his associatesโmust one day face accountability in a real court of law on Bangladeshi soil.
Extortion And Corruption On An Industrial Scale
Tajul was appointed Chief Prosecutor of the restructured ICT on September 7, 2024, with the status of attorney general. He promptly filled prosecutor positions with individuals tied to Jamaat-Shibir networks from his inner circle.
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Beyond staging show trials, Tajul’s group systematically exploited the tribunal for massive corruption and extortion. By threatening to include names in genocide casesโor promising to remove themโthey extracted hundreds of crores of taka from Awami League activists, police and army officers at various levels, businesspeople, and others.
Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim acted as the primary cashier in these operations. Another prosecutor, B.M. Sultan Mahmud, publicly accused the group of corruptionโthough reportedly driven by disputes over dividing the spoils.
Most transactions occurred in cash or overseas. Tajul himself travelled to the United States and Canada for 21 days in NovemberโDecember 2024, during which a significant portion of these dealings took place.
Emboldened by full backing from Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, the group operated with near-impunity. They even accepted direct bank deposits into accounts in Bangladesh.
Specific Bank Accounts Linked To The Scheme
Here are three documented accounts that received illicit funds:
1. Md. Abul Hossain; Account No.: 3133217007528; Prime Bank, IBB Mirpur Branch
2. Md. Saiful Islam; Account No.: 1101006667688; Jamuna Bank, Motijheel Branch
3. Md. Jahid Hasan Nayan; Account No.: 18702101401; Standard Chartered Bank, Gulshan Branch
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In one verified instance, Tajul’s group extracted Tk25 lakh from an individual by promising to drop their name from an ICT case. Deposit receipts exist for this transaction. This is merely a small sample. A thorough state investigation could easily trace ownership, inflows, outflows, and beneficiaries of these accountsโproviding irrefutable evidence of the corruption.
A Final Warning To The Perpetrators
To Tajul Islam and his accomplices: The mock trials you conducted in the name of justice will themselves be judged on Bangladesh’s soil. The hundreds of crores you extorted by holding innocent people hostage will not be enjoyed for long. True accountability is coming, and the rule of lawโlong subvertedโwill prevail.
Aminul Hoque Polash is a former intelligence officer and diplomat.
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