ICT prosecution finishes formal charge framing hearing in enforced disappearance case against Hasina, ex-army officers
The three-member ICT-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, fixed Tuesday (9 December) for hearing the State Defence and the defense counsel for the accused.
International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) prosecution today (7 December) completed its hearing on charge framing against 13 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and several army officials, in a crimes against humanity case on enforced disappearances and torture at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) during the Awami League's tenure.
The three-member ICT-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, fixed Tuesday (9 December) for hearing the State Defence and the defence counsel for the accused.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam conducted the hearing on behalf of the State. He presented accounts of enforced disappearances and torture of anti-government individuals taken to the JIC cell, as well as incidents involving 26 people who went missing between 22 October 2015 and 5 August 2024.
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Citing five related charges, he applied for the framing of charges and the commencement of trial against the 13 accused.
The Tribunal scheduled the next hearing after the State Defence and the defence counsel for the three arrested accused sought time. Azizur Rahman Dulu filed the application on behalf of the detained individuals. Among the 13 accused, three army officers are currently under arrest.
They were produced before the Tribunal today under tight security from the special prison at Dhaka Cantonment. The detained officers are former DGFI director Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiki, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiki. The remaining accused, including Sheikh Hasina, are fugitives.
They include former defence adviser Maj Gen (retd.) Tarique Ahmed Siddique; former DGFI directors Lt Gen (retd) Mohammad Akbar Hossain, Maj Gen (retd) Saiful Abedin, and Lt Gen (retd) Md Saiful Alam; former DG Lt Gen Tabrej Shams Chowdhury; former DG Maj Gen (retd) Hamidul Haque; Maj Gen Touhidul Islam; Maj Gen Kabir Ahammad; and Lt Col (retd) Mokshurul Haque.
The three detained army officers were formally charged and jailed by the Tribunal on 22 October.
On the same day, the court also directed that advertisements be published in two national newspapers within seven days for the appearance of the accused fugitive.
The Tribunal, earlier on 23 November, had set today for the charge-framing hearing and appointed state defense for the fugitives. Senior Advocate ZI Khan Panna initially volunteered to represent Sheikh Hasina but later withdrew on 3 December, citing health issues, after which Md Amir Hossain was appointed.
