Amir Hossain to defend fugitive Hasina in 2 enforced disappearance cases
In one case, the prosecution brought five charges against 13 people, including Sheikh Hasina and her former security and defence adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, over crimes committed at the Joint Interrogation Cell
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today (3 December) appointed Advocate Amir Hossain as state defence counsel for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina in two cases filed over enforced disappearances and torture at the TFI Cell and the JIC during the tenure of the fallen Awami League government.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order after senior advocate ZI Khan Panna withdrew himself from the cases. Panna had earlier been appointed state-defence counsel on 23 November after he expressed willingness to move the cases for Sheikh Hasina.
According to tribunal officials, Panna submitted a petition to the registrar's office expressing his unwillingness to continue. After learning of the petition, the tribunal summoned him. Appearing before the court, the senior advocate stated that he was withdrawing due to poor health.
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A total of 30 accused are facing trial in the two cases, of whom 13 are currently in custody. They are: Md Jahangir Alam, Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Md Qamrul Hasan, Md Mahabub Alam, KM Azad, Abdullah Al Momen, Md Moshiur Rahman Jewel, Saiful Islam Suman, Md Sarwar Bin Qashem, Anwar Latif Khan, Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui and Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui.
On 22 October, the ICT-1 sent these 13 accused to jail along with two others-Mohammad Redwanul Islam and Rafat Bin Alam-who are charged in a separate crimes against humanity case.
Earlier, on 8 October, ICT-1 took cognisance of charges against all 30 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, in the two enforced disappearance and torture cases.
In one case, the prosecution brought five charges against 13 people, including Sheikh Hasina and her former security and defence adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, over crimes committed at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC).
The other accused in this case are: Md Akbar Hossain, Md Saiful Abedin, Md Saiful Alam, Md Tabrej Shams Chowdhury, Hamidul Haque, Mohammad Touhidul Islam, Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Kabir Ahmed, Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui and Mokhchurul Haque.
Another five charges were brought against 17 people, including Sheikh Hasina and Tarique Ahmed Siddique, over crimes committed at the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) Cell.
The remaining accused are: former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, M Khurshid Hossain, Barrister Md Harun Ur Rashid, Anwar Latif Khan, Md Jahangir Alam, Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, KM Azad, Md Qamrul Hasan, Md Mahabub Alam, Abdullah Al Momen, Md Sarwar Bin Qashem, Md Khairul Islam, Md Moshiur Rahman Jewel and Saiful Islam Suman.
