Indictment order against Ziaul Ahsan over enforced disappearance, killings on 14 Jan

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today (8 January) fixed 14 January to pass an order on charge framing in a case against former director general (DG) of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), dismissed Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan, over his alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and more than a hundred killings.

The two-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, set the date after the prosecution pleaded for framing of charges, while the defence sought his discharge from the case.

Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam appeared on behalf of the prosecution, whereas senior advocate Mansurul Haque Chowdhury represented the accused, according to court sources.

Earlier, on 17 December 2025, the prosecution submitted the formal charge, bringing three specific counts against Ziaul Ahsan.

Ziaul Ahsan is currently in custody and is facing trial in several cases involving allegations of abduction, torture, enforced disappearance, killings, and other crimes against humanity.

According to the prosecution, the first charge relates to the killing of three persons, including Sajal, on the night of 11 July 2011 at Pubail under Gazipur Sadar Police Station, allegedly in the direct presence of Ziaul Ahsan.

The second charge covers the period between 2010 and 2013, during which Nazrul, Mallik and at least 50 others were allegedly killed near the mouth of the Baleshwar River adjacent to Charduani Khal in Charduani Union of Patharghata upazila in Barguna.

The third charge also involves the killing of 50 people during the same period, alleging that Masud and others were killed in different areas of the Sundarbans along the Baleshwar River in Barguna and in Sharankhola of Bagerhat, under the guise of operations against so-called forest bandits.