The Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Mohammad Tajul Islam, has confirmed that the term of British lawyer Toby Cadman, who served as his Special Adviser, has not been renewed.

Speaking to reporters at his office on the tribunal premises on Monday afternoon, Tajul Islam said that Cadman was appointed to the advisory role on 19 November 2024, and his one-year contract expired on 19 November 2025.

He explained that although the government had initially considered extending the appointment and Cadman himself had formally requested an extension, the Law Ministry ultimately decided not to proceed with a new agreement.

“His appointment was for one year only. Since there are only a few days left in the current term, the ministry felt it was not appropriate to enter into a fresh contract at this time,” Tajul Islam said.

Toby Cadman is the London-based joint head of the law firm Guernica 37. During the earlier trials over crimes against humanity committed in 1971, he had sought to come to Bangladesh to represent the accused, but was prevented from doing so.

After the fall of the Awami League government following the mass uprising on 5 August 2024, Cadman later returned to Bangladesh and was subsequently appointed as Special Adviser to the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal.