ICT sets 14 Dec to deliver order on charge-framing against Hasina, 12 others in 'Aynaghar' case
Police today produced three arrested army officers before the tribunal under tight security, bringing them from the temporary prison inside Dhaka Cantonment.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has fixed 14 December to deliver its order on whether formal charges will be framed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 12 former and current army officers in a case involving allegations of enforced disappearances and torture inside the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence's Joint Interrogation Cell - widely known as "Aynaghar" - during the Awami League regime.
The two-member Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmood, set the date today (9 December).
During the day's proceedings, defence counsel Masud Salahuddin argued against charge-framing on behalf of three detained army officers.
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State defence lawyer Amir Hossain presented submissions opposing charge-framing for Hasina and the other accused, who have been shown as absconding.
Earlier, police produced the three arrested army officers before the tribunal around 10am under tight security, bringing them from the temporary prison inside Dhaka Cantonment.
They are: Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, former DGFI director Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Majhar Siddiqui.
The remaining accused, including Sheikh Hasina, have been shown as absconding. They are: Hasina's former defence adviser Major General (Retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique; former DGFI director general Lt Gen (Retd) Mohammad Akbar Hossain; former DGFI director general Major General (Retd) Saiful Abedin; Lt Gen (Retd) Md Saiful Alam; former DGFI director general Lt Gen Tabrez Shams Chowdhury; former DGFI director general Major General (Retd) Hamidul Haque; Major General Towhidul Islam; Major General Kabir Ahmad; and Lt Colonel (Retd) Makhsurul Haque.
Earlier on 7 December, ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam presented his arguments for charge-framing, describing in detail the accounts of enforced disappearances and torture allegedly carried out inside the Joint Interrogation Cell.
He also placed before the tribunal evidence involving 26 individuals who were allegedly forcefully disappeared between 22 October 2015 and 5 August 2024.
The chief prosecutor brought five charges against the 13 accused and sought formal indictment, stating that the atrocities represented "extreme brutality".
After the prosecution's submission, state defence lawyers and defence counsel for the three detained accused sought time, following which the tribunal fixed today for hearing.
