The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday revoked the appointment of Advocate Aminul Gani Titu as state defense counsel for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and another party leader Shakil Akand Bulbul, in a contempt of court case. He will be replaced by Md Amirul Hossain.
The tribunal’s decision followed public criticism after a Facebook post by Aminul Gani Titu resurfaced, in which he called for the execution of Sheikh Hasina.
The post, originally made on August 5 of last year, sparked controversy over his suitability as state defense counsel.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, stated that the decision was taken to prevent any conflict of interest and to uphold the integrity of the judicial process.
Earlier, on June 19, the tribunal appointed Titu to represent both Hasina and Awami League leader Shakil Akand Bulbul of Gobindaganj in a contempt of court case.
On Wednesday (June 25), the tribunal asked Aminul Gani Titu about the controversial Facebook post.
Titu admitted to publishing the status on August 5, 2024, just before Sheikh Hasina was ousted as prime minister and fled to India.
He told the tribunal that the post expressed his personal opinion and assured that it would not affect his performance as state defense counsel in the contempt case.
The tribunal subsequently appointed Md Amirul Hossain, a lawyer known for his affiliation with the Awami League, to replace Aminul Gani Titu as defense counsel for Sheikh Hasina and Shakil Akand Bulbul.
Md Amirul Hossain previously served as the Special Public Prosecutor of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-8 from 2010 until August 5, 2024.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Md Amirul Hossain was also appointed as state defense counsel for Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman in a separate case filed in connection with crimes against humanity related to the mass uprising that took place between July and August 2024.
In addition, the tribunal also postponed Wednesday’s scheduled hearing to July 2, after Supreme Court lawyer AY Masihuzzaman—appointed as amicus curiae in the case—requested additional time to review case documents.
Masihuzzaman informed the court that he had received the materials only the previous day and needed more time to prepare.
On April 30, the tribunal issued contempt of court notices to Sheikh Hasina and Shakil Akand Bulbul in response to a petition filed by Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam.
In the petition, Islam argued that their public remarks were contemptuous and intended to disrupt proceedings in the case related to the July 2024 uprising.