Dipu Moni Withdraws Bail Plea at International Crimes Tribunal

Former education minister Dipu Moni was produced before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 for a scheduled bail hearing. The proceedings took place before a three-member tribunal led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mozumder, where the high-profile case attracted significant attention within the courtroom.

During the hearing, Dipu Moni addressed the tribunal directly to state that she is withdrawing her bail application. Explaining her decision to the judges, she stated that she has been in prison for two years and her bail petition, filed last April, had not been heard until now. She explicitly declared that she no longer wants bail and wishes to withdraw the application entirely.

Elaborating on her personal circumstances, the former minister recalled previous remarks made by the tribunal regarding her returning home. She stated that she no longer has any need to go home, sharing the tragic news that her husband, Dr. Tofazzal Hossain (Tofawaz), had passed away on the night of August 18. She noted that he had been bedridden for seven years, had lost his power of speech, and could only respond by blinking his eyes when spoken to.

Reflecting on her separation from her spouse during his final days, Dipu Moni told the court that she had previously sought bail to be by his side. Lamenting that she could not be with her partner of 39 years at the end of his life, she expressed that her need to go home has now expired, asking rhetorically who she has left to go to, even though her children still desire her release and she no longer feels any urgency to return home.

In response to her statements regarding the withdrawal of the bail petition, the tribunal expressed profound sympathy. The judges stated that they were deeply saddened by the circumstances and acknowledged that her application carried a certain logic, while simultaneously emphasizing that the judicial body is obligated to take numerous other factors into consideration when making decisions.