ICT sets 3, 7 Dec for hearing against army officers in 2 crimes against humanity cases
The officers applied to attend subsequent hearings virtually, rather than appearing in person
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has set dates for charge-framing hearings against army officers in two crimes against humanity cases – 3 December for the one involving the Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) Cell and 7 December for the other concerning the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC).
A three-member ICT-1 bench, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, held a hearing earlier this morning (23 November) when thirteen army officers were produced before the court for two separate cases filed over enforced disappearances, killings and other crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the Awami League government's tenure.
The hearing for the cases had originally been set for 20 November but was rescheduled after a petition seeking a new date.
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In another move, the officers facing trial also applied to attend subsequent hearings virtually, rather than appearing in person.
During the hearing on the matter, the tribunal remarked, "The law is equal for everyone. Former justices of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, as well as former ministers and members of parliament, have appeared before this court as accused. Are they [the army officers] exempt from that?"
The tribunal added that if the defence wished to pursue a full hearing on the virtual-appearance request, it would be scheduled for a later date.
At that time, the court further said, "If you express your inability in this regard, we will speak to the relevant authorities of the government and take necessary steps."
Police brought the accused to the tribunal from the sub-jail inside Dhaka Cantonment just after 10am in a special prison van under heavy security.
After arrival, they were taken down one by one and moved to the tribunal's holding cell.
Security was heightened around the premises from early morning, with members of the police, RAB, and BGB deployed, while plainclothes intelligence officers were also seen active in the area.
Earlier, sources from the tribunal's prosecution indicate that today's proceedings might include the submission of reports regarding the return of arrest warrants for army officers, and the appointment of a state defence lawyer for the absconding accused individuals.
In October, fifteen current army officers, ordered to be sent to jail in three cases were sent to the sub-jail.
In one of the cases, a total of four charges have been brought against 17 individuals over abduction, enforced disappearance, and torture allegedly carried out by RAB's Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) cell.
In another crimes against humanity case over enforced disappearances at the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC), former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 13 others are accused.
The 13 army officers currently in jail in the two cases are former RAB additional director general brigadier general Jahangir Alam; brigadier general Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar; brigadier general Md Kamrul Hasan; brigadier general Md Mahabub Alam; brigadier general KM Azad; colonel Abdullah Al Momen; colonel Anwar Latif Khan; former RAB intelligence wing director lieutenant colonel Md Moshiur Rahman; lieutenant colonel Saiful Islam Suman; lieutenant colonel Md Sarwar Bin Kashem; former DGFI director Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain; brigadier general Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui; and brigadier general Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui.
