The chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal has accused retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan, an accused in the 2013 Shapla Chattar crackdown case, of deliberately delaying the judicial proceedings. According to the prosecution, Ziaul initially refused to leave jail before his appearance at the tribunal today and later resisted police attempts to put protective gear on him.

Case Background

The case was filed over the deaths during a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka on May 5, 2013, when police and RAB personnel conducted a crackdown on the protesters. A total of 41 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have been named as accused in the case. Other detained accused include former Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque, retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan, former Deputy Inspector General Abdul Jalil Mondol, Shahriar Kabir, Mozammel Haque Babu, and Farzana Rupa.

Complications Over Court Appearance

The chief prosecutor alleged that Ziaul Ahsan deliberately delayed his appearance before the tribunal. Ziaul first refused to leave jail and later obstructed police efforts to equip him with protective gear for security reasons. This caused a significant delay in the commencement of the tribunal's proceedings.

Accused's Statement

Before appearing in court, Ziaul Ahsan told journalists, "We will win." He did not make any specific comments regarding the case. Observers view his remarks as a challenge to the tribunal, although the prosecution maintains that the case will be resolved through due legal process.

Next Steps

The tribunal is expected to issue directives on how to proceed with the case during the next hearing. The prosecution has been pushing for an expeditious trial, while defense lawyers are expected to present their arguments on behalf of the accused in the coming sessions.