Prominent lawyer Barrister ZI Khan Panna has voiced his willingness to represent Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh currently residing in India, in the tribunal addressing allegations of genocide during the July-August incidents.
"If given the opportunity, I would defend Sheikh Hasina," he stated during a press briefing on Thursday (21 November) in response to a query about the suspension of bail for former additional attorney general Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury.
He noted a significant rise in the number of cases filed under the current legal framework compared to previous periods.
Earlier, on 19 November, the High Court granted a six-month bail to Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury in the murder case linked to the July-August incidents.
However, the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, later suspended the bail.
Representing the state in the hearing were Attorney General Mohammad Asaduzzaman and Additional Attorney General Barrister Anik R Haque, while ZI Khan Panna appeared on behalf of the accused.
Senior lawyers Zainul Abedin, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, and Advocate Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajol represented the Supreme Court Bar Association.
On 20 September, Barrister Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury was apprehended by police while attempting to flee the country through the border.
He was subsequently shown arrested in the murder case stemming from the July-August events.
Prior to this, on 8 August, Chowdhury had resigned from his position as additional attorney general.
The legal proceedings underscore the gravity of the allegations tied to the tumultuous events of July and August, with the judiciary playing a pivotal role in addressing the subsequent cases.
