ICT allows ZI Khan Panna to defend Hasina

Ashiqur Rahman: The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Sunday allowed senior lawyer ZI Khan Panna to act as state defence counsel for deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, now remains fugitive in India. 

Hasina, recently sentenced to death for crimes against humanity over the July–August 2024 mass uprising, is the principal accused in two enforced disappearance cases. 

A total of 27 others — including 13 army officers and several police officials, three senior police officers and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan — are also accused over the alleged disappearances during her 16-year rule.

A two-judge bench led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder initially rejected Panna’s verbal request to be appointed as Hasina lawyer, after chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam opposed his plea stating that the law did not permit any lawyer to represent a fugitive accused.

The chief prosecutor, however, did not oppose to appoint Panna as he was the state-appointed counsel for Hasina.

On August 12, the tribunal had rejected Panna’s earlier plea, saying there was no scope to replace the already appointed state defence lawyer, Amir Hossain, while the trial was underway in absentia.

In a separate order earlier, the tribunal also dismissed another request submitted on Panna’s behalf, noting that Hasina already had a defence lawyer and no new appointment could be made at this stage of the proceedings.

The tribunal further observed that it may consider Panna as state defence in future in appropriate case in he desires.