Enforced disappearance: ICT arrest warrants for 30 sent to 12 offices including police, army, DGFI
Earlier yesterday, the arrest warrants were issued by the ICT-1 issued the arrest warrants in two separate cases
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has formally sent arrest warrants for 30 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and 12 other relevant departments in two separate cases of abduction and enforced disappearance.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam confirmed to reporters that the arrest warrants were dispatched yesterday (8 October) afternoon for the 30 accused individuals in both cases.
These were sent to the IGP and the following 12 offices - Chief of Army Staff, Chief of General Staff, Adjutant General (Army Headquarters), Director General of DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence), Director General of NSI (National Security Intelligence), Principal Staff Officer (Armed Forces Division), Secretary to the Chief Adviser's Office, Director of Military Intelligence, Director of Personnel Service Directorate (Bangladesh Army), Commandant, Army Security Unit, Provost Marshal and CEO, Army MP Unit for Information.
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Earlier yesterday, the arrest warrants were issued by the ICT-1 issued the arrest warrants in two separate cases. One case accuses Hasina, Tarique Siddique, and 17 others of abduction and torture in the TFI cell, while the other involves Hasina, Tarique, and 13 others in similar offences committed in the Joint Interrogation Cell.
The formal charges for these two cases were submitted by the prosecution earlier that morning. After hearing arguments, the tribunal accepted the charges and issued the arrest warrants.
Ex-DGFI, RAB chiefs among accused
In the case concerning abduction, enforced disappearances, and torture in the Rapid Action Battalion's TFI cell, 17 individuals were charged with five counts of crimes.
The accused in this case are: Sheikh Hasina, Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, former RAB director general M Khurshid Hossain, former RAB director general Barrister Harun ur Rashid, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, Brigadier General Jahangir Alam, Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, RAB officer KM Azad, Brigadier General Kamrul Hasan, Mahbub Alam, Abdullah Al Momen, Sarwar Bin Kashem, Khairul Islam, Moshiur Rahman Jewel, and Saiful Islam Suman.
In another case filed over enforced disappearances at the Joint Interrogation Cell, 13 individuals, including Hasina, have been accused of crimes against humanity.
The accused in that case are: Sheikh Hasina, Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former DGFI director general Lt Gen (retd) Mohammad Akbar Hossain, former DG Maj Gen (retd) Saiful Abedin, Lt Gen (retd) Md Saiful Alam, former DG Lt Gen Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, former DG Maj Gen (retd) Hamidul Haque, Maj Gen Towhidul Islam, Maj Gen Sarwar Hossain, Maj Gen Kabir Ahmed, Brig Gen Mahbubur Rahman Siddique, Brig Gen Ahmed Tanvir Majhar Siddique, and Lt Col (retd) Makhsurul Haque.
Among them, four army officers are currently in active service. However, under the amended International Crimes Tribunal Act, serving officers accused in such cases are not permitted to hold any official post, Tajul Islam said.
Hasina fled to India with her sister Sheikh Rehana on 5 August last year in the face of a mass uprising led by students. She has been in India since then. However, the whereabouts of Tarique Siddique remain unknown.
According to media reports, Siddique was denied citizenship in Malta, but he and his family have obtained long-term residency in Malaysia under the country's "Malaysia My Second Home" programme. Additionally, Siddique holds permanent residency in Dubai, where he owns substantial property and has made large investments.
