Govt declares building in Dhaka Cantonment as temporary prison
The government has temporarily declared a building in Dhaka Cantonment as a prison.
According to a notification issued by the Department of Prisons of the home ministry, the declaration was made under the authority of Section 541 (1) of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 and Section 3(B) of the Prisons Act, 1894 (IX of 1894).
The notification, signed by Md Hafiz Al Asad, deputy secretary of the Security Services Division of the home ministry, states that the 'MES Building-54', located on the north side of Bashar Road in Dhaka Cantonment, has been designated as a temporary prison.
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It added that the order has been issued with the approval of the authority concerned and will take immediate effect.
The development comes after the Bangladesh Army Headquarters, on 11 October, said 15 army officers were facing arrest warrants issued in separate cases over enforced disappearances and torture committed during the Awami League's rule. They have been taken into military custody.
However, the ministry notification does not specify whether the accused would be placed in this Dhaka Cantonment prison.
On 12 October, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Tajul Islam said the 15 army officers currently in the custody of the Bangladesh Army must be produced before the tribunal within 24 hours, as required by law, following the issuance of arrest warrants in connection with enforced disappearance, torture and murder.
Major General Md Hakimuzzaman, adjutant general of the Bangladesh Army, at a press briefing, had said, "A total of 15 accused officers are now under army custody, while one officer remains unaccounted for. He left his residence one morning and has not returned since. Efforts are underway to trace his whereabouts," he said, adding that the name of the personnel is Major General Kabir Ahmed.
He further said, "On 8 October, we learned that arrest warrants had been issued against 25 former and current army officers. However, we have not yet received any official copy of the warrants — none have been handed over to us so far."
"Among the 25 officers, some are retired while others are still in service. Nine have retired, one is on leave preparatory to retirement [LPR], and 15 are currently serving."
