Rampura killings: ICT sets 4 Dec for charge framing hearing; 2 army officers seek virtual appearance
This marks the second appearance for Redowanul and Rafat before the tribunal; they were first produced on 22 October, when ICT-1 formally showed them arrested in the case and ordered jail
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 today (24 November) has set 4 December for the formal framing of charges against four individuals, including two army officers, in a case of crimes against humanity involving the killing of 28 people in Dhaka's Rampura during the July Uprising.
The two-member judicial panel of ICT-1, led by Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud, set the date.
This development occurred as two accused military officers, lieutenant colonel Redwanul Islam and major Md Rafat Bin Alam, formerly of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), were produced before tribunal earlier today.
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They were brought under heavy security from a special jail in Dhaka Cantonment at around 10am, transported in a special green air-conditioned prison van.
In addition to setting the charge framing hearing date, ICT-1 appointed a state defence lawyer to represent the two absconding co-accused, Md Rashedul Islam, former additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of DMP's Khilgaon zone, and Md Moshiur Rahman, former officer-in-charge (OC) of Rampura Police Station.
During the proceedings, Prosecutor Mizanul Islam presented arguments on behalf of the prosecution, supported by Prosecutors SM Moinul Karim and Tarek Abdullah.
Meanwhile, Masud Salahuddin, the lawyer representing the two military officers, submitted an application requesting that their subsequent hearings in this case be conducted virtually, rather than requiring their physical presence.
The tribunal has also set 4 December to hear arguments on the virtual appearance plea.
This marks the second appearance for Redowanul and Rafat before the tribunal; they were first produced on 22 October, when ICT-1 formally showed them arrested in the case and ordered jail.
Security measures around the Supreme Court complex, including the main gate of the tribunal, have been heightened this morning with additional members of law enforcement agencies, including police, RAB, and BGB, deployed.
Army personnel are also patrolling the areas surrounding the apex court.
