Ziaul seeks tribunal permission to appoint British lawyer
Tribunal-1 reserves 7 October to issue order after hearing former NTMC chief’s petition.
Former Major General Ziaul Ahsan, an accused in a case over enforced disappearances during the Awami League government, has filed a fresh petition seeking permission to appoint British lawyer Steven Kay KC to defend him before the International Crimes Tribunal.
He has also sought instructions for the Bangladesh Bar Council to respond promptly to his application.
International Crimes Tribunal-1 today (6 October) heard the petition and reserved tomorrow (7 October) to pass an order, Ziaul's lawyer Naznin Nahar told reporters.
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Ziaul is facing trial over alleged crimes against humanity involving the enforced disappearance and killing of more than 100 people during the Awami League government. Testimony from an investigation officer is currently being recorded in the case.
On 17 December last year, the prosecution submitted formal charges against Ziaul over the alleged enforced disappearance and killing of more than 100 people, bringing three counts against him.
The tribunal framed charges against him on 14 January and ordered the trial to begin.
Ziaul was the former director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), the country's national telecommunications surveillance agency. He was arrested in mid-August 2024 following the fall of the Awami League government.
According to court documents, the tribunal on 22 December 2025 directed prison authorities to take necessary steps to complete the process of appointing a foreign lawyer for Ziaul.
Following the order, prison authorities sent an application to the Bangladesh Bar Council on 22 January seeking approval for the appointment of Steven Kay KC, a barrister at London-based 9BR Chambers.
The Bar Council has yet to respond to the application, prompting Ziaul to file the latest petition before the tribunal.
