Crimes against humanity: Salman, Anisul seek permission to hire foreign lawyers
Tribunal said it would review the law before giving a decision
Salman F Rahman, former adviser to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former law minister Anisul Huq have sought permission from the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) to appoint foreign lawyers to represent them in a crime against humanity case over their alleged role in mass killings during the July Uprising of 2024 amid a curfew.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Monsurul Haque Chowdhury filed the petition today (10 December) before the two-member ICT-1 led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder. The tribunal said it would issue an order later.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam requested time for the hearing on framing formal charges, and the next hearing was scheduled for 17 December.
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After the hearing, Monsurul told reporters that foreign lawyers require approval before applying to the bar council, and if granted, there would be no obstacle in hiring them.
The prosecution and defence presented their arguments, and the tribunal said it would review the law before giving a decision, he said.
Earlier, on 4 December, the prosecution formally filed charges against Salman and Anisul, which the tribunal later accepted.
The prosecution alleged that during the July Uprising, the two made phone calls urging an end to the protests during the curfew, which later led to shootings across Dhaka and other areas on 19 July 2024 and afterwards.
Salman and Anisul were arrested on 13 August last year while attempting to flee and have remained in custody in various cases since then.
