Bangladesh Tribunal Excludes Titu, New Hasina Trial

In a significant development, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) has removed state-appointed counsel Aminul Gani Titu from representing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in an ongoing trial. The removal comes in the wake of controversy surrounding Titu's past remarks, where he had demanded Hasina's execution in a Facebook post last year. The ICT-BD, originally established to prosecute war crimes from the 1971 Liberation War, has shifted its focus to addressing allegations against Hasina and her government. These accusations include mass killings and enforced disappearances during July and August 2024. Hasina's government, the Awami League, was overthrown during a student-led protest on August 5, 2024. Since then, she has been residing in India, while many of her party leaders and officials are either imprisoned or seeking refuge abroad. Following Titu's removal, the tribunal has appointed Amir Hossain as the new state defence counsel for both Hasina and her former Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Titu, acknowledging his earlier controversial post, expressed that he would have approached the defense role professionally had he been allowed to continue. This trial signifies a new direction for the ICT-BD, as it shifts its attention from historical cases related to the 1971 war to recent charges against Hasina's regime, indicating a continuation of political tensions in Bangladesh.