No govt directive yet on job status of 15 army officers facing ICT trial: Army HQ
“There is no problem of legality, but rather a question of interpretation, as it can be understood in various ways,” said Director of the PS Directorate under the AG's Branch at the Army Headquarters, Brig Gen Md Mustafizur Rahman
The government is yet to issue a clear directive regarding the job status of the 15 Bangladesh Army officers accused in three separate cases filed over the charges of crimes against humanity, according to Brig Gen Md Mustafizur Rahman, director of the PS Directorate under the AG's Branch at the Army Headquarters.
"We are currently engaging with the government on this issue and are awaiting a definitive directive," he said while responding to a question at a press briefing at the Army Headquarters in Dhaka today (5 November).
Referring to the third amendment to the ICT Rules, which was published on 6 October, he said, "The recent amendment is unclear on a few key points - specifically, how termination would be executed if disqualification means termination, and what constitutes a 'public office' in the context of army officers. We are working toward a fair and positive resolution."
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
He further said, "There is no problem of legality, but rather a question of interpretation, as it can be understood in various ways."
Last month, International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said 15 of the 25 army officers accused in three cases of crimes against humanity are still in active service.
Of the 15, six are brigadier generals, one major general, four colonels, three lieutenant colonels, and one major. They are accused of involvement in enforced disappearances, killings and other crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the Awami League government's tenure.
On 22 October, the 15 officers were sent to a sub-jail inside Dhaka Cantonment following an order of the ICT-1. The next hearing in the cases is scheduled for 20 November.
