Ayesha Begum, wife of slain Teknaf Municipality Councilor Ekramul Haque, expressed these expectations following the submission of a formal charge sheet at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) concerning her husband's extrajudicial killing.

"I want justice for the murder of my husband. I want every single accused involved in Ekram's killing to face trial, and I want the land that former Member of Parliament Bodi seized from my father returned," she demanded.

Ekramul Haque was killed on May 26, 2018, in a purported "gunfight" during an anti-narcotics drive in the Noakhaliapara area of Marine Drive, Teknaf. A late-night phone call left the entire nation in shock. Ekram’s mobile phone was active in his final moments, with his wife and two children on the line. The harrowing audio recording of that conversation was not just an ordinary clip; it became a chilling testament to state brutality and a family's heart-rending agony.

The audio deeply shook the nation's conscience. Responding to his daughter’s question, "Abbu, why are you crying?" Ekram replied, "No Ammu, I am not crying." As the recording progressed, Ayesha Begum’s frantic pleas were heard: "Oh Allah! What did you do to him? Hello... Hello...!" The background noise captured the heavy thud of boots, the slamming of vehicle doors, and harsh commands. Ekram’s final desperate cry, "I did no wrong," was abruptly silenced by the deafening sound of gunfire, followed by a mother's piercing screams. The family has spent eight long years waiting for justice for a murder that was systematically covered up as a "gunfight."

The Audio Record That Triggered Global Outrage

On the night of May 26, 2018, a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-7) team shot and killed Ekramul Haque in cold blood under the guise of a special anti-narcotics operation. The unabridged audio recording—capturing Ekram's dying groans, his family's desperate pleas, and the sound of RAB personnel firing—stunned Bangladesh upon its release.

The incident placed the then-government under intense international scrutiny. Subsequently, in 2021, the United States imposed stringent sanctions on RAB, citing severe human rights violations.

Following the 2024 mass uprising, Ekram's family filed a case at the International Crimes Tribunal hoping for justice. On July 26, 2026, the official charge sheet was submitted to the ICT, leading to the issuance of arrest warrants against 11 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bodi Identified as the Mastermind

Speaking to journalists outside the court, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam identified Abdur Rahman Bodi, the controversial former Member of Parliament from Teknaf, as the primary mastermind behind the assassination.

Investigations revealed that Ekramul Haque, known as a clean and highly popular local leader, had become a significant obstacle to Bodi’s absolute political dominance. Furthermore, there was a calculated plot to seize multi-million-taka properties owned by Ekram's family. Leveraging political influence and personal interests, RAB was utilized to execute the killing. Following the murder, Ekram's land was misappropriated through intimidation and abuse of power. Bodi is currently incarcerated in connection with a separate case and has been formally shown arrested in this tribunal case.

Tribunal Order and Status of the Accused

Taking the prosecution's investigation report and formal charges into cognizance, the tribunal immediately issued arrest warrants for eight fugitive suspects, including Sheikh Hasina. Simultaneously, the court ordered the physical production of three incarcerated suspects at the tribunal, scheduling the next hearing for August 25, 2026.

The prosecution confirmed that preliminary evidence of crimes against humanity, abduction, torture, and premeditated murder has been established against the accused.

List of Accused and Current Status:

After an agonizing eight-year battle, Ekram’s family views the commencement of this formal trial at the tribunal as a historic milestone for the country's judicial system. They are now looking forward to August 25, the day the perpetrators of this brutal killing are scheduled to face accountability in the courtroom.