At the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Thursday, former ICT minister Zunaid Ahmed Polok, sentenced to death in a war crimes case related to the July uprising, requested permission to personally cross-examine a witness. The case also involves Sajib Wazed Joy, son of Sheikh Hasina. So far, seven witnesses have testified. On the day set for the cross-examination of the seventh witness, Kabir Hossain Mridha, Polok’s lawyer Liton Ahmed sought more time, citing the recent appointment of a new defense lawyer who could not attend. The tribunal denied the request.

Polok was brought to the dock and asked to conduct the questioning himself, but the prosecution objected, arguing that only defense lawyers are allowed to cross-examine witnesses. Liton countered that Polok is a lawyer and understands legal procedures, yet the tribunal refused permission. Liton then proceeded with the cross-examination, during which the witness denied participating in a victory rally after Sheikh Hasina’s fall in August 2024 and described seeing bodies, including his son’s, at a hospital that night.

The exchange highlighted tensions between the defense and prosecution over procedural rights in the ongoing high-profile trial.