'I have no need to go home': Dipu Moni seeks withdrawal of bail plea after husband’s death

Former education minister Dipu Moni has told the International Crimes Tribunal that she wants to withdraw her bail petition, saying she no longer has a reason to return home after her husband's death.

"I have been in custody for two years. My bail petition was filed in April. I no longer want bail. I want to withdraw the petition. I have no need to go home anymore," she told the tribunal today (27 August).

Dipu Moni, who has been detained in a case over alleged crimes against humanity during the July uprising, was produced before the tribunal from jail for a scheduled bail hearing.

'I could not be there at the end'

Speaking before the bail hearing began, Dipu Moni sought permission to address the tribunal. After being allowed, she spoke through the microphone at the dock.

She said her husband, Toufiq Newaz, had been bedridden for seven years and had lost his ability to speak. "If he wanted to say something, he would answer by blinking," she said.

Dipu Moni said she had cared for her husband while serving in government for five years, but he had to leave home and live at an undisclosed location for two years while in hiding. "He could not accept this life," she said.

Toufiq Newaz was admitted to hospital about four months ago after his condition deteriorated. Dipu Moni said she had sought bail at the time so she could be with him.

"I could not be beside my life partner of 39-year in his final moments. Now there is no need for me to go home. Who would I go to? My children want me to seek bail, but I have no urgency to return home anymore," she said.

Toufiq Newaz died on 18 August. Dipu Moni's lawyers had filed her bail petition on April 26.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, expressed sympathy for Dipu Moni's situation and said her request had merit, but it also had to consider other issues. The tribunal set September 17 for the next hearing on her bail petition.