Ilias Ali’s wife protests Ziaul Ahsan’s handcuff-free court appearance

BNP lawmaker Tahsina Rushdir Luna has expressed outrage in parliament over former army officer Major General (retd) Ziaul Ahsan being taken to court without handcuffs, demanding an explanation from the law minister, who assured that such an incident would not recur.

Luna, wife of disappeared BNP leader M Ilias Ali, raised the issue on a point of order on yesterday, the fifth day of the fourth session of the 13th parliament.

On Thursday (12 November), Ziaul Ahsan, accused of enforced disappearances and killings,  was brought from prison to the International Crimes Tribunal premises under tight security.

When a police officer attempted to handcuff him as he stepped down from the prison van, he objected. He was eventually taken to the tribunal’s detention cell without handcuffs.

Luna said Ziaul’s body language and behaviour made it appear as though he was on a pleasure trip, while police officers seemed to be escorting him as a VIP.

The incident has left her and many other families of victims worried and alarmed, she said, asking whether the government was showing him special leniency.

In response, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said the incident had also come to his attention, although escorting accused persons to court did not fall within his ministry’s jurisdiction.

“The government assures parliament that such an incident will not recur on court premises,” he said, adding that the government is determined to ensure that the trials were not questioned or compromised and that it did not want any predetermined verdicts.