Fourteen serving Bangladesh Army officials and another on post-retirement leave, accused in an enforced disappearance case, were produced before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 amid tight security in Dhaka on Wednesday morning.
They arrived at the tribunal premises in an air-conditioned prison bus of Bangladesh Prisons at about 7:15am, escorted by heavy security.
A large number of law enforcement personnel were deployed inside and around the tribunal since early morning ahead of the scheduled hearing in two cases involving 28 accused, including 15 serving army officers.
On October 8, the ICT-1, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued arrest warrants against the 28 accused after the chief prosecutor filed charges of crimes against humanity over the alleged enforced disappearance of dozens of citizens during the ousted Awami League regime. The tribunal fixed October 22 for further order.
The accused include 25 current and former senior officers of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence and the Rapid Action Battalion, from the ranks of lieutenant colonel to major general, for their alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and custodial torture under their command.
Following the filing of formal charges on October 8, Bangladesh Army adjutant general Major General Md Hakimuzzaman told a press conference on October 10 that all 15 accused serving officers were directed to report to the Dhaka Cantonment. Fourteen have complied with the order, while one officer is on post-retirement leave.
A home ministry notification issued on October 11 declared 鈥楳ES Building No 54,鈥� north of Basher Road in Dhaka Cantonment, as a temporary prison facility for the accused.
Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former defence adviser Major General (retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique were also named among the 28 accused.
The accused also include several senior RAB and DGFI officials.
The RAB-linked accused are 鈥� seven former additional director generals 鈥� Lieutenant Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, Brigadier General Md Jahangir Alam, Brigadier General Tofael Mostafa Sarwar, Colonel AKM Azad, Brigadier General Kamrul Hasan, Brigadier General Md Mahbub Alam, and Colonel Abdullah Al Momen.
Four former RAB-1 intelligence directors 鈥� Lieutenant Colonel Sarwar Bin Kashem, retired Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Khairul Islam, Lieutenant Colonel Mashiur Rahman Jewel, and Lieutenant Colonel Saiful Islam Suman.
The DGFI-linked accused are 鈥� five former directors general 鈥� retired Lieutenant General Md Akbar Hossain, retired Major General Md Saiful Abedin, retired Lieutenant General Md Saiful Alam, retired Lieutenant General Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, and retired Major General Hamidul Huq.
Five former DGFI directors are 鈥� retired Major General Mohammad Towhid-ul-Islam, Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Major General Kabir Ahmed, Brigadier General Mahbub Rahman Siddique, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddique and Retired Lieutenant Colonel Makhsurul Haq.
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