Ziaul Ahsan’s birthday celebration: Tribunal issues show-cause notices to three, tightens security

The International Crimes Tribunal has issued show-cause notices to three individuals over an incident in which detainee Ziaul Ahsan reportedly celebrated his birthday by cutting a cake inside the tribunal’s detention facility.

The tribunal administration issued the notices, while the registrar’s office confirmed the matter on Monday.

According to reports, former army officer Ziaul Ahsan celebrated his birthday at the tribunal’s detention facility on August 18 by cutting a cake. Around the same time, relatives of detainees entered the facility carrying additional food. The detainees were also reportedly seen celebrating the occasion.

Expressing concern over the incident, the tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor, Md Aminul Islam, said last Wednesday that various unwanted activities, including cake-cutting, were disrupting security at the tribunal.

He also said there had been several allegations of detainees being provided with additional food in violation of the rules, along with other irregularities.

In addition, allegations were made that Ziaul Ahsan’s sister and his lawyer, Naznin Nahar, had behaved discourteously toward police officers on duty.

After the allegations came to light, the Registrar General was briefed in detail in the interest of ensuring the tribunal’s overall security. Subsequently, the tribunal administration and the prosecution office jointly took steps to further strengthen security measures.

The Chief Prosecutor told journalists, “We have information that Ziaul Ahsan could carry out sabotage at any time. While in custody, he is not complying with law and order or the rules and regulations. Because of these concerns and security risks, he is being brought to and taken from the tribunal in handcuffs.”

However, Ziaul Ahsan’s sister and lawyer, Naznin Nahar, described the Chief Prosecutor’s allegations as completely baseless.

Denying that any cake-cutting had taken place, she said, “The claim that a cake was cut is completely false. The tribunal’s detention facility is certainly not a place for celebrating birthdays. Where would he get a cake there, and who would he even cut it with? That is the question.”

Regarding the allegation that he was being provided with extra food, she said, “Does he take a large pot filled with food there? He is given rice and curry for himself in an ordinary tiffin carrier, and that is what he eats. If someone happens to be sitting beside him and he gives that person a bite or two, that is a different matter.”

Nahar also rejected the allegation that she had behaved discourteously toward police officers. Raising a counter-question, she said, “It should be made clear which police officer was treated discourteously.”

Claiming that Ziaul Ahsan was being deliberately “targeted,” she alleged that he was being brought to the tribunal in handcuffs in order to subject him to physical and mental suffering.