Former NTMC Director-General Ziaul Ahsan loses temper at ICT
Ziaul was compared to the 'butcher' of Bosnia by the chief prosecutor
Major General (retd) Ziaul Ahsan, former director-general of the National Telecommunications Monitoring Centre (NTMC), lost his temper during a hearing at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on charges of crimes against humanity related to the July-August killings.
At the hearing, yesterday, Ziaul Ahsan stood for a while, and when an on-duty police officer attempted to ask him to sit, he scolded the officer.
Addressing the judges from the dock, Ziaul Ahsan, visibly agitated, said, "I have never worked in the Aynaghar. I was in a technical role."
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The court responded, saying, "The investigation is ongoing. You have a lawyer. If necessary, your lawyer will address the matter."
After the judges left the courtroom, the on-duty police officers went to escort the defendants from the dock to the prison cell. At this point, Ziaul told them, "No one will touch me, don't come near me. You have been beaten, and you will be beaten again in the future."
"I am not given paper and pen in the prison. I need to write. You must give me paper and pen. Give me everything that has been said against me, and I will review it," he shouted at the officers.
He appeared visibly agitated at the time. His lawyer, Nazneen Nahar, assured him that everything would be provided later.
As the police prepared to transfer him to the prison van, a few officers held his arms. He instructed them to let go of his hands.
Ziaul was among eight defendants, including former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who were presented for arrest.
However, the other seven defendants remained silent during the proceedings.
Ziaul compared to the 'butcher' of Bosnia
During the hearing, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam compared Ziaul Ahsan's actions to those of Radovan Karadžić, the "butcher" of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He said, "Ziaul Ahsan was the architect of practices in Bangladesh such as enforced disappearance, torture, murder, and the disposal of bodies. During the Awami League government's tenure, he systematically abducted, tortured, and detained members of opposition political parties who attempted to speak out, many of whom have never returned."
Tajul Islam further said, "We have learned that BNP leader Ilias Ali was abducted and murdered under Ziaul's leadership."
