Tureen Afroz placed on 4-day remand

A Dhaka court yesterday placed Tureen Afroz, former senior prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), on a four-day remand in an attempted murder case.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jakir Hossain passed the order after police produced her before the court with a 10-day remand prayer in the case, said a court staffer.

Tureen was brought to the courtroom of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court of Dhaka amid tight security yesterday noon.

Yesterday, Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi argued for the 10-day remand prayer.

However, several lawyers also appeared in the courtroom to represent her. But she stated she already had a lawyer. At that point, the judge asked, "Who is your lawyer?" she replied, "Saiful Karim". But she was unable to locate him.

Tureen then said, "Honourable Court, I would like to speak with your permission." And the court granted her plea.

She said, "My learned friend [state prosecutor] has made conflicting statements…  The case in Dhaka is based on the 5th August incident. This case is fabricated. I can provide full documentation of where I was prior to August 5. During that time, I had surgery for a tumor at the Evercare Hospital."

"For the past four years, I haven't said anything in the media, haven't written anything. It is being said that I supported fascist Hasina," she also said.

She continued, "I supported fascist Hasina, and yet it was during her regime I was deprived of my job. I've been out of work for six years. I don't understand which side I belong to."

She also told the court she had faith in the law.

"No one is above the law...The investigating officer has requested a 10-day remand. You may even give 20 days if you want, because I know I haven't done anything wrong. I believe I will get justice," she concluded.

After her submission, the magistrate put her on remand.

On March 27 this year, Md Jabbar, 21, who suffered bullet wounds in Dhaka's Uttara on August 4 last year, filed the case with Uttara West Police Station against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 49 others.

Tureen, 52, was arrested at her home in Uttara early yesterday as she was a FIR-named accused.

She had been removed from the ICT after she allegedly met suspected war criminal Mohammad Wahidul Haque.

Tureen had prosecuted several high-profile cases, including those against executed war criminals -- Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, Motiur Rahman Nizami and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, and Ghulam Azam, who died in jail.