Senior lawyer H A M Zahirul Islam Khan Panna, also known as Z I Khan Panna, applied to serve as state-appointed defence counsel for fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a case over crimes against humanity during the July-August mass uprising. 

However, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 did not accept his application.

lawyer Naznin Nahar presented the application on behalf of Z I Khan Panna in court on Tuesday (August 12).

As Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal remain absconding in the case, the tribunal appointed state defence lawyers for them on June 24 under legal provisions.

The tribunal appointed Amir Hossain, former special public prosecutor of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-8 and a pro-Awami League lawyer, as state defence counsel. 

He has since been cross-examining prosecution witnesses on behalf of Hasina and Kamal in the ongoing trial.

Another accused in the case, former inspector general of police and jailed Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, has become a state witness.

Speaking to reporters later, Naznin Nahar said senior lawyer Z I Khan Panna had earlier expressed interest in representing the former prime minister. He subsequently applied to the tribunal, but as a counsel had already been appointed, the registrar expressed inability to comply. The application was also sent by post.

Naznin Nahar said she had placed the application before the court to convey Panna’s wish. “The court said since a lawyer has already been appointed, it is no longer possible. The court also said that due to a lack of time, he could submit his bio-data for consideration in any other case if needed,” she added.

She further said Panna had conveyed another message through her—if he was not appointed as state defence counsel for the former prime minister, he should be allowed to assist (provide legal assistance to the court) in the case. “The court also said that this was not possible,” she said.

MSK/