Sacked army officer Ziaul Ahsan, who is under trial in a forced disappearance case, has applied to the International Crimes Tribunal to appoint a foreign lawyer to represent him.
His sister, Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Nazneen Nahar, submitted the application to the tribunal on his behalf on Sunday. A separate application was also filed requesting permission for his sister, Advocate Nazneen Nahar, to be present as his lawyer during his interrogations.
Ziaul, former director general of National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC), was arrested on 14 August 2024 based on a tip off in a case filed with New Market Police Station. He was relieved of his post on 6 August last year.
He is notorious for his extrajudicial and enforced disappearance assignments while serving the Rapid Action Battalion under the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
On Sunday, Advocate Nazneen Nahar has alleged that sacked Maj Genl Ziaul is being interrogated in violation of the law.
Nahar told the tribunal that Ziaul has been questioned in an irregular manner, stating that Nabila Idris, a member of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, had interrogated him beyond the presence of the investigation officer or prosecution members.
The lawyer claimed she did not know whether the tribunal had authorised Nabila’s presence and alleged that Nabila threatened Ziaul during the interrogation.
In response, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam stated that victims are brought in during questioning to help uncover information, and that Nabila Idris is knowledgeable about the case.
He further stated, “Ziaul alone has killed nearly 1,000 people. If a victim is brought in during his interrogation, does that make the entire process invalid? Various information about you [Nahar] is also emerging in the investigation; you could be made an accused as well.”
Advocate Nazneen Nahar replied, “Go ahead.” This exchange created a tense situation in the tribunal. The tribunal then remarked, “If involvement is found, she [Nahar] can be made an accused, but for now she is a lawyer.”
Later, during a briefing with journalists, Tajul stated that an investigating officer can keep anyone they deem necessary beside them to make the interrogation productive.
He added that when an accused is confronted by a victim, they are compelled to tell the truth, and that the investigating agency is following such procedures. Ziaul was arrested from city’s Khilkhet area on 14 August 2024.
