November 12, 2009. Shoaib called me with news about today’s court proceedings. They could not have taken much more than ten minutes, he said. There were no witnesses, and the prosecution did not even participate really. Judge Bashir Ullah merely informed the defense that the case would be continued to an unspecified date the second week of January 2010.

Throughout his recent US trip, Shoaib made it clear to all of us–supporters and well wishers both inside and outside of the US government–that he “had to get back to Dhaka” for his November 11 court appearance. Yet, the court evidently did not give the matter the same level of seriousness. While several previous court dates seemed to indicate that the government might be looking to end Shoaib’s ordeal, we have returned to the “hurry up and wait”mode that has characterized most of Shoaib’s 73 court appearances.

As I have suggested as recently as last week, stringing out this onerous and admittedly false prosecution continues to punish Shoaib without forcing the government to do so on the basis of law of evidence. Nor does it risk angering Bangladeshi Islamists, who were the force behind this entire prosecution. The Bangladeshi government remains little more than their lackey.

Once again, politics, appeasement, and cowardice trump justice for the government of Bangladesh. It is absolutely unbelieveable that some people actually thought the Awami League government would be different. They should have listened to our warnings.

It looks like the Awami League government expects 2010 to be just like 2009. Shoaib was summoned to the courtroom on January 12, but the government’s witness did not show. Did the court finally drop this case after the government again thumbed its nose at the rule of law? Of course they did not. They merely ignored the government’s latest violation of law and set a new date of February 18, 2010. When will the Awami League realize that actions such as these only confirm to the rest of the civilized world that Bangladesh is not a nation where that supports the rule of law or a nation that wishes to join or partner with them.

For the full trial history, click here.