We, the undersigned, call for immediate action to protect the integrity of Bangladesh’s justice system. Recent developments in the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) raise grave concerns about fairness, transparency, and adherence to international legal standards.

The ICT, established under the ICT Act 1973, was intended to deliver justice for atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War. However, recent proceedings suggest that some trials may be politically influenced and fail to meet internationally recognized standards of due process. The current ICT, operating under an ordinance that lacks constitutional legitimacy, does not reflect public opinion and appears to function as a judicial-execution platform—comparable to the tribunal used by Pakistan’s military dictator General Zia to execute Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. These procedurally questionable tribunals resemble “kangaroo courts,” where verdicts appear predetermined and politically aligned with the Interim Government’s “Reform, Justice, Election” campaign.

Key Concerns:

1. Judicial Independence
   Recent appointments of judges and prosecutors, along with multiple reports of resignations under pressure, raise serious questions about the tribunal’s independence. Alarmingly, all 17 ICT prosecutors are current or former members of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami or its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir. Adding to the conflict of interest, the chief prosecutor previously acted as defense attorney for Jamaat leaders who were later convicted by the same tribunal. Even critics of the previous ICT, including David Bergman, described the appointment of Tajul Islam as a “terrible decision by the Interim Government.”
2. Fast-Tracked Tribunal
   The tribunal’s expedited proceedings appear politically motivated and aligned with the Interim Government’s “Reform, Justice, Election” campaign, raising concerns about impartiality and thoroughness.
3. Denial of Adequate Legal Representation
   Defendants have reportedly been denied the right to choose their own counsel, with state-appointed attorneys imposed upon them. Some government-appointed lawyers appear unqualified to provide effective defense, violating fundamental principles of due process.
4. Trials in Absentia
   Certain individuals have been tried without being present in court, potentially contravening international fair-trial standards.
5. Absence of Defense Witnesses
   Not a single defense witness has been allowed to testify in cases where verdicts are scheduled imminently, including on November 17, undermining the defendants’ right to a meaningful defense.
6. Conspiracy between Tribunal Judge and Government Appointment Defense Attorney
   Leaked video footage shows a judge reprimanding a government-appointed defense attorney for asserting a client’s innocence. The attorney’s response indicates that the trial may be staged and that verdicts appear predetermined, highlighting severe concerns about the tribunal’s integrity.

Appeal to global community 
We strongly reject the legitimacy of the ongoing trial by the International Crimes Tribunal, which appear politically influenced, procedurally flawed, and in violation of basic principles of fair trial. We call upon the international community, human rights organizations, and legal authorities to intervene and demand an immediate suspension of all current proceedings until independent, transparent, and impartial review mechanisms are established. Justice cannot be achieved through a predetermined or biased tribunal. The world must act now to prevent irreversible miscarriages of justice and ensure accountability in Bangladesh respects both the rule of law and international human rights standards.