ICT orders beginning trial against Sheikh Hasina, 16 others on charges of enforced disappearances
The tribunal has scheduled 21 January for the prosecution to present its opening statement and for the examination of witnesses in the case.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) ordered the commencement of trial proceedings against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 16 others on charges of crimes against humanity over alleged enforced disappearances and torture at the Rapid Action Battalion's Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell during the Awami League regime.
The order was issued today (23 December) by a three-member panel of ICT-1 led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder after rejecting discharge petitions filed by defence lawyers. The tribunal framed charges against all the accused and directed that the trial begin formally.
The tribunal has scheduled 21 January for the prosecution to present its opening statement and for the examination of witnesses in the case.
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Among the accused are Sheikh Hasina, Tarique Ahmed Siddique, several former and serving army officials, and others. Of the total 17 accused, some are under arrest while others remain absconding.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Gazi MH Tamim, Shaikh Mahdi and others, represented the prosecution at the tribunal. Lawyers for both detained and fugitive accused were also present during the hearing.
Following the framing of charges, the tribunal read out the allegations to the arrested accused individually. When asked whether they pleaded guilty, the detained defendants claimed innocence.
According to tribunal procedures, a date for recording witness testimonies is expected to be fixed at least 21 days after the formal framing of charges.
Security was tightened in and around the tribunal premises from early morning. Additional police forces were deployed, alongside members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the armed forces.
After 10am, police produced 10 arrested army officers before the tribunal after transporting them in prison vans from the special jail at Dhaka Cantonment. Those produced included former RAB additional director general Brigadier General Md Jahangir Alam; Brigadier Generals Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Md Kamrul Hasan, Md Mahabub Alam; Colonels KM Azad, Abdullah Al Momen, Anwar Latif Khan (on pre-retirement leave), former RAB intelligence wing director Colonel Md Mashiur Rahman; and Lieutenant Colonels Saiful Islam Suman and Md Sarwar Bin Kashem.
