No prosecutors or investigators of the International Crimes Tribunal have been nominated by the ruling Awami League to contest the next parliamentary polls. Some of them blame the media for their failure.
Five prosecutors and top two officials from the tribunal’s investigation agency bought nomination papers from the Awami League. However, the party did not include any of them in its 300-strong list of candidates published on Friday.
The aspirants were engaged in intense lobbying of the party leaders and grassroots, hoping to secure nomination in their constituencies. Yet after the submission of the nomination papers, they faced severe criticism because of their involvement with the war crimes tribunal.
The five prosecutors are Sultan Mahmud from Shariatpur 2 (Noria-Shakhipur), Nurjahan Begum from Chandpur, Mokhlesur Rahman from Kishorganj 2 (Pakundia-Kotiadi), Mohammad Ali from Dhaka 20 (Dhamrai) and Syed Saidul Haque from Chunarughaat. Abdul Hannan Khan, chief coordinator of the investigation agency, bought nomination papers from Netrakano 5 (Purbadhola) and Sanaul Haq from Kishoreganj 3.
Some colleagues of the aspirant prosecutors also think the Awami League acted correctly by not giving them nominations, as this would raise eyebrows among many people and parties who are critical of the trials.
When investigator Hannan submitted his nomination paper, he claimed that he had the potential to be nominated from his constituency. But as he failed, Hannan now blames the media for creating a debate about the nomination of tribunal-related people.
He said: “It is not necessary that the prosecution and investigation agency be neutral. We can seek nomination from the ruling party. There is no barrier.”
In a frustrated voice, he said the media had made it an issue; which was “disappointing.”
To encourage voters and seek support from the grassroots, all of them communicated with the leaders and activists of their constituencies. Nurjahan Begum was the most active among them.
From the very beginning, she started campaigning in her Chandpur constituency where the party has nominated Maj (retd) Rafiqul Islam. Now she is concerned about her political career as she failed to get a party ticket.
She said: “This situation takes me 10 years back from my present position. I gave so much effort – physically, psychologically and also financially. Now it will take more time to recover [the loss].”
Another prosecutor Mokhlesur Rahman was seeking candidacy for the Kishoreganj 2 seat where Prof Dr Abdul Mannan, a member of the central advisory council of the Awami League, is the incumbent.
The prosecutor took it lightly, saying, “It may be helpful for my future candidacy. The party knows better than me about which is better for us.”
Prosecutors Sultan Mahmud and Mohammad Ali seemed frustrated, they were not ready to comment on this issue.
