Witness tells ICT he learned from Intelligence Sources about Nephew’s death
A prosecution witness has told the International Crimes Tribunal that he learned through intelligence sources that his nephew, Nazrul Islam, was killed by retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan.
Habibur Rahman Mallik made the statement during cross-examination before a two-member bench of International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md. Shafiqul Alam Mahmud, on Thursday.
Habibur Rahman is the fourth witness in a case involving allegations of crimes against humanity linked to more than a hundred incidents of enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League government. Ziaul Ahsan is the sole accused in the case.
The witness had completed his testimony on April 22, after which cross-examination began by defence counsel Aminul Gani Tito. As the questioning remained incomplete, it continued for a second day.
During the proceedings, Habibur Rahman stated that he came to know through intelligence personnel that his nephew had been killed by Ziaul Ahsan.
However, defence lawyer Tito challenged the claim, arguing that the witness had not mentioned this allegation in his earlier testimony and was now naming Ziaul Ahsan based on instructions from the investigating officer.
In response, the witness said that following Nazrul’s killing, intelligence officials frequently visited their home. On one occasion, they informed the family that Nazrul had been killed by Ziaul Ahsan, then serving as the intelligence chief of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
The prosecution was represented by Prosecutor Mizanul Islam, along with Prosecutors Shyikh Mahdi, Tasmirul Islam, and Moinul Karim, among others. The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for May 6. However, Ziaul Ahsan’s sister and defence counsel, Naznin Nahar, raised objections to the date, leading to a brief, heated exchange in court.
Relevant news links in this regard are as follows:
Dhaka Post – https://www.dhakapost.com/law-courts/447035
Jagonews24 – https://www.jagonews24.com/amp/1113295
Rupali Bangladesh – https://www.rupalibangladesh.com/ajkerpatrika/last-page/136348
Daily Sangram – https://dailysangram.com/bangladesh/court/NSGAUs3D4xqS
NTV Online – https://www.ntvbd.com/bangladesh/news-1725089
Daily Bangladesh Protidin – https://www.bd-pratidin.com/last-page/2026/04/24/1242594