Former education minister Dipu Moni became emotional at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday, saying she no longer had a reason to return home as she sought to withdraw her bail application following the death of her husband.
Referring to her nearly two years in custody, Dipu Moni expressed her grief over not being able to stand beside her husband Tawfique Nawaz during his final days. He died on 18 August.
Dipu Moni made the remarks before the judge of Tribunal-1 after being produced on the scheduled date in an ongoing case over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising. Police produced 10 accused before the tribunal, including former MPs and ministers of the Awami League government.
The proceedings were held before the three-member panel of Tribunal-1 headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder. The other members are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
At one stage of the hearing, Dipu Moni sought permission to speak from the dock. After receiving permission, she said, “My lawyer filed a bail petition. Although I have been in jail for the past two years, I have not spoken before the court. But today I want to say something.”
“I do not want bail anymore. I am withdrawing my bail petition,” she said.
Referring to her family situation, Dipu Moni said, “Earlier, during the bail hearing, the court asked me, ‘What will you do after going home?’”
“In your words, you were right,” she said.
Dipu Moni said her husband had been bedridden for seven years due to illness and was unable to speak.
“He communicated through eye movements. Even during my five years in government, I looked after him and took care of him. He did not face any problems then,” she said.
“But over the past two years, as I remained in prison, he was kept in different unknown places,” she added.
Referring to her 39-year marriage, Dipu Moni said, “I wanted to be beside my life partner of 39 years. But I was not allowed to stay with him until the final day of his life.”
She then said emotionally, “When the person I loved could not have me when he needed me, now there is no need for me to go home. My children want me to get bail. But I have no urgency to return home.”
The courtroom fell silent while Dipu Moni was making her statement.
The tribunal later said, “We are saddened.”
Addressing her, the tribunal said, “What you have said has been taken into consideration. However, several other issues have to be considered regarding bail, and the arguments of both sides also need to be taken into account.”
Dipu Moni’s lawyer had filed the bail petition in April this year. After the death of her husband Tawfique Newaz on 18 August, she was granted 12 hours’ parole.
Although Dipu Moni personally sought to withdraw her bail petition on Thursday, the tribunal kept the application pending with the consent of the defence lawyers.
The next hearing on the matter has been scheduled for 17 September.
