Four high-profile war crimes suspects, including ex-ministers Hasanul Haq Inu and Shajahan Khan, allegedly hurled abuse and threats at police officers while being presented before the International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday.
Tensions flared at the International Crimes Tribunal as former ministers Hasanul Haq Inu, Shajahan Khan, Kamrul Islam, and ex-army official Ziaul Ahsan reportedly engaged in verbal misconduct with police during their court appearance in connection with a genocide case.
According to police accounts presented before the court, the altercation began while officers were escorting the accused from the prison van. The suspects, angered by being handcuffed, allegedly insulted the police and issued direct threats. Inu was quoted as saying, “We will destroy your entire clan. Our people will take care of you. We’re keeping records of everything.”
Shajahan Khan, visibly agitated, stood in court and protested, “I am a freedom fighter. Being handcuffed is a humiliation for me.” The accused denied the allegations in unison, calling them “false and fabricated.”
However, tribunal officials were told that the suspects likened police behavior to “Israeli forces” and made repeated derogatory remarks. Officer Shahidul stated, “They called us offspring of collaborators and threatened to settle scores later.”
The court advised police to act within legal boundaries while maintaining that unruly conduct by suspects would not be tolerated. Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam condemned the incident as a “blatant threat to the rule of law.”
Following the hearing, as the accused were escorted back to jail, an angry crowd near the Children’s Academy gate hurled rotten eggs at the prison van in protest.
LND/BG
