Tribunal will determine where accused should be kept, says ICT chief prosecutor
It is not the prosecution’s concern which facility is designated as a prison, he says
If any accused (in crimes against humanity) is arrested, he must be produced in the tribunal within 24 hours and then the court will decide where he should be kept, International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said today (13 October).
Responding to a question about the government declaring a building in Dhaka Cantonment as a prison, Tajul said, "It is not the prosecution's concern which facility is designated as a prison."
He emphasised that their primary concern is ensuring that all procedures are carried out according to the law.
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"Our concern is that the work must be done according to the law. If the accused is arrested, he must be produced in the tribunal within 24 hours. This is what the constitution, the tribunal law, and the criminal procedure code mandate. Then the court will decide where the accused should be kept," he said,
Tajul explained that once an accused person is presented to the court, the court may order sending them to prison. "The facility can be the central jail or any location officially declared a prison by the government, such as the National Parliament Building, or even the MP Hostel."
According to a notification issued by the Department of Prisons of the home ministry, the 'MES Building-54', located on the north side of Bashar Road in Dhaka Cantonment, has been designated as a temporary prison.
The development comes after the Bangladesh Army Headquarters, on 11 October, said 15 army officers were facing arrest warrants issued in separate cases over enforced disappearances and torture committed during the Awami League's rule. They have been taken into military custody.
However, the ministry notification does not specify whether the accused would be placed in this Dhaka Cantonment prison.
