Write For Rights, a newly formed Bangladesh-based human rights advocacy organization, has demanded a comprehensive, independent investigation into allegations of corruption, bribery, abuse of power, flawed trials, and procedural irregularities plaguing the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD), following a high-profile bribery scandal involving a former prosecutor.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, Write For Rights expressed deep concern over leaked audio recordings that appear to show former ICT prosecutor Md. Saimum Reza Talukdar demanding Tk1 crore (approximately USD 82,000) from the family of detained former Awami League MP ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury in exchange for facilitating bail in a crimes against humanity case.
Chowdhury, a five-time parliamentarian from Chattogram-6, has been held since his arrest in 2024 over alleged involvement in violence during the anti-discrimination student uprising in Chattogram, though no formal chargesheet has been filed.
The recordings, verified and published by media outlets including Prothom Alo and Netra News, reportedly capture multiple conversations where Talukdar pressured the family for payments, promised influence over bail proceedings, and even suggested bribing an investigator. The family claims they recorded the interactions after repeated demands beginning in April 2025 and refused to pay. Talukdar resigned on March 9, 2026, citing a return to academia, and has denied the allegations as false.
The incident has intensified scrutiny on the ICT-BD, which prosecutes alleged crimes against humanity, including those tied to the 1971 Liberation War and more recent events. Write For Rights highlighted that this case fits into a broader pattern of accusations against the tribunal’s prosecution team.
The organization pointed to prior claims against former chief prosecutor Tajul Islam (removed in February 2026 following the BNP’s electoral victory) and associates, including allegations of running an extortion “syndicate,” manipulating cases through bribes, granting selective leniency (such as converting accused individuals into state witnesses), and using fabricated evidence or coerced testimonies. Media reports have also referenced incomplete investigations and evidentiary weaknesses in politically sensitive cases targeting Awami League figures.
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Write For Rights further criticized multiple amendments to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 enacted via ordinances in 2024 and 2025 without parliamentary approval. These changes—expanding jurisdiction, allowing prosecution of organizations, introducing retroactive elements, and facilitating political party bans—are widely viewed as unconstitutional and designed to target opposition rather than ensure impartial justice.
While current Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam has condemned the bribery claims, described the process as “cent percent questionable,” and launched an internal investigation into Talukdar’s conduct, Write For Rights argued that such measures fall short. The group called for:
– An independent judicial commission, including respected jurists, international observers, and civil society representatives, to probe all corruption, bribery, abuse of power, case manipulation, flawed trials, and incomplete probes at the ICT-BD.
– Public disclosure of findings, verification of evidence, and accountability—including criminal action where warranted.
– Suspension of politically sensitive trials until reforms guarantee compliance with international fair trial standards, including independent oversight and due process.
– Parliamentary review and reversal of the contested ordinance-based amendments to restore constitutional norms.
“Justice cannot be bought, nor can tribunals serve as tools for vendettas or extortion,” said Probir Kumar Sarker, founder and chairperson of Write For Rights. “In a nation recovering from past traumas and recent upheavals, the rule of law must remain impartial and transparent to prevent cycles of impunity.”
Write For Rights announced plans to initiate letter-writing campaigns urging authorities to act and pledged ongoing support for victims while amplifying marginalized voices.
The scandal has drawn widespread media attention, with Chief Prosecutor Islam vowing zero tolerance for corruption and emphasizing prosecutors’ duty to remain “selfless.”