Charge-framing in enforced disappearance case against Hasina, 12 others deferred to 18 Dec
The ICT fixed the new date after hearing discharge pleas and arguments from both the prosecution and defence
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today (14 December) deferred until 18 December its order on framing formal charges against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 12 others, including army officers, in a crimes against humanity case over alleged enforced disappearances and torture.
The case relates to incidents at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC), also known as "Aynaghar," at the headquarters of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) during the Awami League's consecutive terms in office.
The order was passed by the three-member Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
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The tribunal was scheduled to pass its order on charge framing on the day but fixed a new date instead.
Earlier, on 9 November, defence lawyer Azizur Rahman Dulu sought the discharge of three accused who are currently in custody, placing four grounds before the tribunal. The tribunal said it would consider three of those grounds – illegal detention, abduction, and torture – while the remaining ground related to enforced disappearance.
After Dulu's hearing, state defence lawyers, including Hasan Imam and Amir Hossain, represented the fugitive accused.
The prosecution brought five charges in the case. On 7 December, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam argued for framing charges, presenting accounts of alleged abduction and torture of government critics at the JIC.
He also placed before the tribunal details of 26 individuals who were allegedly forcibly disappeared between 22 October 2015 and 5 August 2024. Based on these allegations, the prosecution sought the framing of charges against all 13 accused.
Three army officers have been arrested in connection with the case. They are former DGFI director Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddique, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Majhar Siddique. All three were produced before the tribunal on Sunday.
The fugitive accused include Sheikh Hasina; her former defence affairs adviser retired maj gen Tarik Ahmed Siddique; former DGFI director general lieutenant general (retd) Md Akbar Hossain; former DGFI director general major general (retd) Saiful Abedin; lieutenant general (retd) Md Saiful Alam; former DGFI director general lieutenant general (retd) Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury; former DGFI director general major general (retd) Hamidul Haque; major general (retd) Mohammad Towhid-ul Islam; Major General Kabir Ahmed; and retired lieutenant colonel Makhsurul Haque.
