ICT rejects ZI Khan Panna’s application to represent Sheikh Hasina

The International Crimes Tribunal has declined the application of senior Supreme Court lawyer Z I Khan Panna to represent Sheikh Hasina in the ongoing case related to crimes against humanity stemming from the anti-discrimination student movement in July.

Panna’s application was submitted on Tuesday by lawyer Nazneen Nahar at Tribunal-1. However, the tribunal did not take the application into consideration as it had already appointed lawyer Amir Hossain, former Special Public Prosecutor of Dhaka Special Judge Court-8, as the state defense counsel for Sheikh Hasina on 25 June. Amir Hossain has since represented Hasina in multiple hearings.

The tribunal raised questions about the timing and intent of Panna’s application during the witness examination phase and stated that no new applications could be accepted at this stage. The tribunal likened the situation to a train having already left the station, with the station master denying any further boarding.