British barrister and international criminal law expert Toby Cadman has resigned from his position as Special Adviser to the Chief Prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), reportedly due to dissatisfaction and concerns over the ongoing legal process. The news, which has circulated widely on social media, has sparked renewed debate about the country’s judicial system and the tribunal’s impartiality.
On Monday (January 19), British human rights activist and investigative journalist David Bergman stated in a Facebook post that Toby Cadman had formally submitted his resignation letter to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Although Cadman has not publicly provided a specific explanation for his decision, the timing of his resignation has led many to believe that he was unhappy with the tribunal’s legal proceedings.
Earlier, on November 17, the so-called “kangaroo court”–styled tribunal sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to life imprisonment. Describing the verdict as “inadequate,” the so-called Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam filed an appeal on December 15. The hearing of that appeal is scheduled for January 20.
Under the law, any appeal against a verdict must be filed within 30 days, and the appeal must be disposed of within 60 days of filing. To meet this deadline, an urgent hearing was sought in the chamber court of the Appellate Division, which accepted the request and fixed a date for a full bench hearing.
At such a critical moment, the resignation of an international legal adviser has raised eyebrows. Many observers believe this is not merely an administrative matter but rather an indication of a deeper internal crisis concerning the tribunal’s legal procedures, judicial transparency, and adherence to international standards.
However, the Chief Prosecutor’s office has claimed that Cadman’s one-year contract had expired and was not renewed, which is why he is no longer in the role. Despite this explanation, many analysts are unwilling to accept his departure on the eve of the appeal hearing as a mere coincidence.
Toby Cadman is the co-founder and joint head of the London-based international law firm Guernica 37. He had been associated with the International Crimes Tribunal since September 2024 and had previously worked as a consultant on tribunal proceedings in Bangladesh in 2011. Owing to his extensive experience in international criminal law, he was widely regarded as an important asset to the tribunal.
Experts warn that the resignation of an international adviser could negatively affect the credibility and acceptability of Bangladesh’s judicial process on the global stage. This has raised a critical question: is this simply a case of a contract expiring, or does it reflect serious objections regarding the transparency and neutrality of the legal process?
