Tribunal Chair Expresses Transport Concerns

The Chairman of the International Crimes Tribunal–2, Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, has expressed strong dissatisfaction after the official vehicle assigned for his commute broke down while he was travelling from home to court. He remarked that under such circumstances, he might be forced to “either walk or come by handcart,” highlighting concerns over the condition of official facilities.

The comments were made on Monday (4 May) inside the courtroom shortly after the tribunal convened. The three-member judicial panel, led by Justice Chowdhury, took the bench at approximately 11:30 am to begin proceedings.

At the very outset of the hearing, before formal judicial activities commenced, Justice Chowdhury addressed Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam and other lawyers present in court, voicing his frustration regarding the disruption caused by the breakdown of his official transport.

According to the remarks made in court, the judge stated that his assigned vehicle became inoperative during his journey, forcing him to complete part of the route using a police vehicle. He stressed that such logistical shortcomings were unacceptable and urged that the matter be communicated to higher authorities for immediate attention.

He further noted that continued operational difficulties of this nature could affect the functioning of the tribunal, underscoring the need for reliable transport arrangements for judicial officers performing sensitive responsibilities.

During the discussion, Prosecutor Sultan Mahmud also brought attention to additional infrastructural issues within the tribunal premises. He pointed out that the air-conditioning system in the courtroom was not functioning properly. The Chief Prosecutor further added that several problems persist in the older section of the tribunal building, which require urgent maintenance and improvement.

The exchange highlighted broader concerns regarding administrative and infrastructural support within the tribunal environment, particularly relating to comfort, functionality, and operational efficiency during court proceedings.

Reported Issues Raised in Court

The proceedings later continued after the brief exchange of concerns, with court officials proceeding to address scheduled matters before the tribunal.