The Supreme Court authorities have asked for intensified security for the chief justice and four other justices of the Appellate Division as they have started dealing with the appeals of war criminals.
SC Registrar ATM Shamsul Islam in a letter to the home ministry on September 16 asked the home secretary for taking immediate measures in this regard.
The next day, the Appellate Division in its first verdict sentenced Abdul Quader Molla, assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, to death after both the government and the accused had appealed against the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal.
Usually security forces escort all justices with gunmen on their ways to offices and homes while the residence of the chief justice is also guarded by forces.
“The existing security measures and security forces were adequate for any normal time. But additional security for the justices concerned have been sought, considering the existing situation as the Appellate Division has started the process of appeal disposal of war criminals,” said the SC registrar.
In reply to a question, he told the Dhaka Tribune last night: “Not only uniformed forces, we have also sought deployment of plainclothes and well-equipped security personnel.”
He, however, said he did not yet know about any follow-up on his letter.
Headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, a five-member bench is dealing with the war criminals’ appeals.