ZI Panna’s application to represent Sheikh Hasina at the International Crimes Tribunal rejected

Staff Correspondent. Dhaka, August 12, 2025.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna has filed an application with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) to fight a case on behalf of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the anti-discrimination student movement in July. He filed the application on Tuesday (August 12). However, the tribunal rejected his application, saying that there is no legal scope to appoint any new lawyers in the current situation. The incident has also sparked controversy over the tribunal’s process of appointing self-appointed lawyers, with allegations that the appointed lawyers are linked to the politics of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

ZI Khan Panna, a senior lawyer and a figure associated with the Bangladesh Awami League, applied to the International Crimes Tribunal to represent former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a case of crimes against humanity. He mentioned in his application that he wanted to participate in the case to ensure fair representation for Sheikh Hasina. But the tribunal’s panel of judges refused to accept the application, saying, “It is not possible to accept any application at this time. After leaving the train, there is no opportunity to board the train, as the station master told me.” The tribunal also said that Sheikh Hasina did not appear in court despite a notice published in the newspaper. As a result, the tribunal declared her absent and appointed a state defense counsel on her behalf. The tribunal said that there is currently no legal opportunity to appoint a new lawyer.

Controversy over appointment of lawyers by the court

The tribunal’s decision and the process of appointing the State Defense Counsel have been widely criticized and debated. It has been alleged that the tribunal has appointed lawyers of its own free will without the permission or consent of the defendant (Sheikh Hasina). Some of these appointed lawyers are alleged to be politically affiliated with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. A lawyer who did not wish to be named said, “This decision of the tribunal is questionable because appointing lawyers without the consent of the defendant is against the standards of international justice. In addition, the allegations of affiliation of some of the appointed lawyers with Jamaat raise questions about the impartiality of the case.” Several posts on the X platform have expressed concern about this issue. One user wrote, “This move by the tribunal is clearly politically motivated. The appointment of people associated with Jamaat is undermining the impartiality of the case.” The political background of Jamaat-e-Islami has further complicated the debate.

The tribunal’s chief prosecutor, Mohammad Tajul Islam, has also been accused of conflict of interest in the case. He was previously involved in the controversial review petition hearing of Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam’s case. Such allegations further raise questions about the tribunal’s impartiality.

The tribunal’s decision and the process of appointing self-appointed lawyers have drawn sharp criticism from the legal community and civil society. Many believe that appointing lawyers without the consent of the defendant in important cases like Sheikh Hasina violates the principles of international justice. In addition, the appointment of people associated with Jamaat-e-Islami has increased the risk of the case being politically biased. In a post on X, a user wrote, “This step by the tribunal is not only an expression of political vendetta, it is also eroding public trust in the justice system of Bangladesh.” A section of the Bar Association is reportedly considering issuing a statement in protest of the incident.

The rejection of ZI Khan Panna’s appeal at the International Criminal Tribunal and the controversy over the appointment of self-appointed lawyers have raised serious questions about the impartiality and transparency of the Bangladeshi judicial system. The allegations of the appointment of people associated with Jamaat-e-Islami as lawyers have further highlighted the political dimension of the case. In this situation, the next steps of the tribunal and the course of the case could have a profound impact on the country’s judicial system and political stability.