Tajul Islam strongly denies corruption allegations

Former Chief Prosecutor of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Barrister Mohammad Tajul Islam, has issued a detailed written statement categorically rejecting corruption charges leveled against him and Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim, calling the allegations “malicious lies” designed to derail ongoing genocide trials.

The statement, released in both Bangla and English on Tuesday, comes a day after the new government removed Tajul Islam from his post and appointed Md Aminul Islam as the new Chief Prosecutor.

The controversy erupted on Monday when Prosecutor BM Sultan Mahmud publicly accused Tamim of financial misconduct in a Facebook comment thread, alleging that the wife of an accused-turned-state witness (SI Sheikh Abjalul Haq) had visited Tamim’s chamber carrying a heavy bag in November last year. 

Sultan claimed he immediately informed Tajul, but no action was taken.

Sultan Mahmud further alleged irregularities in turning several police officers into state witnesses despite video evidence of their involvement in killings, and questioned the exoneration of former IGP Abdullah Al Mamun and others.

In his rebuttal, Tajul Islam said, “These vile falsehoods are being spread by a vested quarter with the sole intention of deflecting attention from the trials of fallen autocrats and mass murderers and to ensure that justice is obstructed. During my tenure, not a single question was ever raised about my integrity or the transparency of the prosecution team. Now that I have been removed, certain circles are raising baseless allegations only to benefit the perpetrators of genocide and to discredit the tribunal.”

Tajul challenged anyone to produce even “a shred of evidence” to support the claims, asserting that every step taken by the prosecution under his leadership was lawful and transparent.

Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim also rejected the allegations on Tuesday, stating that the claims were “personally motivated” and “unexpected” after cases had entered judicial proceedings.

Tamim argued that converting accused persons into state witnesses (approvers) is standard global criminal jurisprudence and is considered a success for the prosecution, not corruption. He said prosecutors worldwide offer incentives to insiders to secure confessions, and accused Sultan Mahmud of turning the practice on its head.

Tajul Islam, who previously defended Jamaat-e-Islami leaders at the tribunal during the Awami League era and served as joint convener of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), was appointed Chief Prosecutor by the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus after the fall of the Hasina regime on August 5.