International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam has said bombs were planted to kill him and other investigators involved in cases of enforced disappearances.
He made this claim to journalists on Sunday on the premises of the International Crimes Tribunal after a hearing.
Tajul said that investigation reports have been received for the cases filed against Sheikh Hasina over allegations of murder and genocide, the case related to burning bodies in Ashulia, and the mass killing case in Chankharpul.
Formal charges for at least two of these cases will be submitted to the tribunal within this month, he added.
He also mentioned that the tribunal has granted a three-month extension to submit the investigation report in the Jatrabari mass killing case.
The tribunal has scheduled April 13 for the interrogation of Sohel Mia, an accused in the Ashhabul Yamin murder case in Savar, and Thursday for the interrogation of police officer Nasirul Islam in connection with the murder case in Chankharpul.
The chief prosecutor further said that various conspiracies are underway to disrupt the tribunal’s proceedings.
“No conspiracy or scandal will be able to halt the judicial process. No one will be able to prove any corruption within the tribunal’s prosecution or investigation agency,” he said.
Tajul continued: “Bombs were planted to kill me and the investigation team working on the enforced disappearance cases. But no conspiracy will be able to obstruct justice.”
He added that the prosecution has received investigation reports for three mass killing cases that took place in July.
These are currently being reviewed, and it is expected that formal charges in at least two of these cases will be submitted this month, he added.
The chief prosecutor said: “We believe one tribunal is not enough. There should be more tribunals. The government has been thinking positively in this regard. We hope a second tribunal will be launched very soon. However, attempts from the accused to obstruct justice will not succeed.”
