13 army officers produced before ICT in crimes against humanity cases
The officers applied to attend subsequent hearings virtually, rather than appearing in person
Thirteen army officers were produced before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday (23 November) in two separate cases filed over enforced disappearances, killings and other crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the Awami League government's tenure.
A three-member ICT-1 bench, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, is scheduled to hold a hearing on the formation of the two cases.
The hearing for the cases had originally been set for 20 November but was rescheduled after a petition seeking a new date.
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In another move, the officers facing trial have applied to attend subsequent hearings virtually, rather than appearing in person.
Defence Lawyer Maidul Islam Polok submitted the application to the ICT Registrar's Office this morning on behalf of several accused officers.
The lawyer stated that the tribunal is scheduled to hear the application today, and its decision will determine whether the officers will be granted virtual attendance.
However, sources from the tribunal's prosecution indicate that today's proceedings may also include the submission of reports regarding the return of arrest warrants for army officers, and the appointment of a state defence lawyer for the absconding accused individuals.
Police brought the accused to the tribunal from the sub-jail inside Dhaka Cantonment just after 10am in a special prison van under heavy security.
After arrival, they were taken down one by one and moved to the tribunal's holding cell.
Security was heightened around the premises from early morning, with members of the police, RAB, and BGB deployed, while plainclothes intelligence officers were also seen active in the area.
Earlier in October, fifteen current army officers, ordered to be sent to jail in three cases were sent to the sub-jail.
In one of the cases, a total of four charges have been brought against 17 individuals over abduction, enforced disappearance, and torture allegedly carried out by RAB's Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) cell.
In another crimes against humanity case over enforced disappearances at the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC), former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 13 others are accused.
The 13 army officers currently in jail in the two cases are former RAB additional director general brigadier general Jahangir Alam; brigadier general Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar; brigadier general Md Kamrul Hasan; brigadier general Md Mahabub Alam; brigadier general KM Azad; colonel Abdullah Al Momen; colonel Anwar Latif Khan; former RAB intelligence wing director lieutenant colonel Md Moshiur Rahman; lieutenant colonel Saiful Islam Suman; lieutenant colonel Md Sarwar Bin Kashem; former DGFI director Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain; brigadier general Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui; and brigadier general Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui.
