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Mayer Daak Coordinator Sanjida Islam
Sanjida Islam (Tuli), Coordinator of Mayer Daak—a platform representing the families of victims of enforced disappearance—has alleged that investigations and judicial proceedings at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) during the tenure of the interim government disproportionately prioritized cases involving individuals affiliated with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
Sanjida Islam made the allegations on Tuesday while speaking to journalists at the ICT Chief Prosecutor’s Office in Dhaka, where she accompanied affected families to review the current status and trajectory of disappearance probes.
The platform coordinator contended that enforced disappearance cases stemming from the Awami League regime that involved victims outside Jamaat-e-Islami did not receive equal institutional urgency under the interim administration. Sanjida Islam is the sister of disappeared BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon and currently serves as a Member of Parliament from the reserved women's seats on the BNP nomination.
Expressing frustration over prolonged administrative delays, Sanjida Islam stated:
"Following the mass uprising, we anticipated that formal complaints filed on behalf of our victims would gain rapid investigative momentum at the tribunal. Mayer Daak submitted around 150 documented cases to the Chief Prosecutor's Office, spanning more than a decade of gathered evidence. Yet, across the one year and three months under the interim administration, we observed no tangible progress on these files. When we agitated for justice, we stood for everyone without partisan distinction. Why was selective prioritization applied to three specific cases linked to Jamaat? To achieve justice, institutional action needed to transcend political considerations."
The high-profile proceedings referenced involve the unlawful confinement of former Jamaat lawmaker Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem (Arman) at the RAB Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell—where 17 individuals, including 12 serving and former military officers, face prosecution—and the prolonged detention of retired Brigadier General Abdullahil Amaan Azmi at the DGFI Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC), where 13 accused face trial.
Under the interim administration, Advocate Mohammad Tajul Islam served as ICT Chief Prosecutor; following the assumption of office by the BNP-led government, Advocate Md. Aminul Islam was appointed to the post. Sanjida noted that Mayer Daak has observed proactive efforts by the incumbent Chief Prosecutor to expedite pending complaints.
Addressing media queries later in the day, Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam affirmed that both the tribunal’s prosecution and investigation wings maintain profound sympathy for all victimized families, emphasizing that investigations are conducted strictly on humanitarian and legal grounds rather than partisan identity:
"We do not categorize victims by political affiliation; every victim belongs to an affected family. Although ongoing trials involving Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem or Abdullahil Amaan Azmi happen to feature individuals aligned with a particular political ideology, this in no way implies that victims from BNP or other backgrounds will be deprived of justice. Justice will be ensured even if victims are affiliated with the Awami League."
Detailing investigative breakthroughs, Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam revealed that investigators have verified and identified 250 specific families whose members were forcibly disappeared by law enforcement agencies and never returned. Formal testimonies from each family are being recorded, alongside mapping the specific physical locations from where abductions were carried out.
Highlighting the scope of work, he noted that a specialized team of five investigation officers is systematically working through each individual dossier, requesting a reasonable timeframe to finalize and submit comprehensive reports to the tribunal.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/national/1f1a0ab3-a70f-6890-9976-b7241383c30e