Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam has described a Human Rights Watch report questioning the standards of International Crimes Tribunal trials as biased. Speaking to journalists at his tribunal office on Wednesday, he said no HRW representative had approached the prosecution or made necessary inquiries with the investigation agency. He said the report appeared to have been influenced by an accused person.

HRW published its report on Tuesday night, raising questions about the international standards of the tribunal’s proceedings. Responding to claims that prosecutors repeatedly brought similar allegations against defendants, Aminul Islam said statements and charges can be similar when separate cases concern killings at the same location. He said lethal weapons and shootings were used in a planned, similar manner across the country.

Aminul Islam said a prosecutor accused of seeking a bribe was removed immediately. He alleged that the person who made the offer had spoken with the prosecutor 24 times and may have intended to make the tribunal’s trials controversial. He also said 24 senior officials work at the investigation agency and questioned reports by HRW and other organisations that he said were issued without verification.