A fact-finding committee has found evidence that former prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Saimum Reza Talukder demanded a bribe of Tk 1 crore from the wife of former lawmaker Fazle Karim Chowdhury, Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said on Tuesday.
Briefing reporters at his office, Aminul said the allegation surfaced after an audio recording of the alleged bribe demand was leaked in the media, prompting the formation of a committee to investigate the matter.
“Our prosecutor Saimum Reza Talukder sought Tk1 crore from the wife of Fazle Karim Chowdhury, an accused in a case under trial at the tribunal, promising to secure his acquittal,” he said. “We have already verified the authenticity of the audio recording. The voices of both parties are present there.”
He added that while the conversation has been verified, the committee is still examining whether any financial transaction actually took place.
“After the issue came to our attention, we questioned him, and he subsequently resigned voluntarily. Despite his resignation, the investigation is ongoing. We will publish the report very soon and reveal the actual facts. The report will later be handed over to the Ministry of Law,” the chief prosecutor said.
On March 9, a private television channel aired the audio conversation between Saimum and the wife of Fazle Karim. The recording includes discussions about paying the money in installments and suggests using a BNP lawmaker and a state minister to lobby in exchange for assurance of release from the case.
The audio also indicates that support from the tribunal’s new chief prosecutor—described as “reasonable”—could be secured through recommendations from those political figures.
Police earlier said Fazle Karim Chowdhury was arrested on September 12, 2025, while attempting to flee to India through the Akhaura border in Brahmanbaria.
According to the prosecution, he is accused of involvement in the killing of nine people, including Wasim, and injuring 459 others in Chattogram during the July mass uprising.
In a case filed over mass killings linked to the anti-discrimination student movement, the tribunal on February 16 ordered that he be shown arrested and sent to jail.
Meanwhile, Saimum Reza Talukder denied the bribery allegation in a Facebook post, claiming the audio clips were fabricated and part of a smear campaign.
A five-member fact-finding committee, led by the chief prosecutor, was formed to investigate the allegation.