Eminent lawyer ZI Khan Panna appeared before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today to defend four former Awami League MPs—Amir Hossain Amu, Hasanul Haq Inu, Rashed Khan Menon, and Shahjahan Khan—who face charges of crimes against humanity related to the July uprising.
Panna, who is also a vocal critic of the previous regime, sought protection from the tribunal, explaining that he had just come from the hospital and was not in good health. “My life is at risk,” he told the court. “I woke up this morning and found out I had died,” referencing rumors circulating on social media about his death.
He further expressed concern over receiving phone threats, stating, “By the grace of Allah, I am still alive, but I fear for my life. I want to inform the court that my death should come naturally, not through any external cause.”
Tribunal Chairman Golam Mortuza Mozumder asked why Panna had been receiving threats, though Panna did not go into detail. The chief prosecutor standing next to Panna quipped that he should have been sitting on the prosecution’s side, a remark Panna responded to humorously, explaining that he had never addressed the court as “my lord” in his career but did so today.
Panna also remarked on the formal terms of address in court, expressing his preference for alternatives to the colonial-era term “my lord.” The tribunal chairman agreed, suggesting alternatives such as “Your Majesty” or “Your Highness.”
As the accused were brought into the courtroom and seated, Panna greeted them with “Guru Salam,” a respectful gesture, which was reciprocated by the defendants, including Amir Hossain Amu, Qamrul Islam, and Hasanul Haq Inu.