The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has set June 24 as the date for submitting the investigation reports in the case of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, filed as crimes against humanity.
A three-member bench headed by ICT Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar issued the order on Sunday (April 20). Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam briefed the court on the progress of the investigation and sought additional time.
Former Director General of RAB, retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan—one of the accused in the case—was produced before the tribunal during the hearing.
Tajul Islam stated that over the past 15 years, between 800 and 900 cases of enforced disappearances have taken place. Investigations into around 200 of the cases are in the final stages. Some 300 victims of disappearance were later found to have been killed.
He further informed the court that arrest warrants have been issued against 11 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The prosecution stated that the investigation agency has inspected locations used in the abductions and torture—including the “Aynaghor” and designated sites within the RAB-1 office in Uttara, RAB-2 in Agargaon, and a facility in Kachukhet. Evidence of disappearances, torture equipment, and markings were discovered at these sites.
“There was an attempt to destroy evidence by altering the structure of the `Aynaghor’. These efforts have been documented in the investigation,” Tajul told the court.
He accused former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, members of her cabinet, MPs, Awami League leaders and activists, and various law enforcement officials of being directly involved in the enforced disappearances and killings.
Earlier on January 6, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against 11 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, her Security Adviser retired Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and former IGP Benazir Ahmed.
Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power on August 5 last year and following a mass uprising and she fled to India.
Since the interim government took over, more than 50 complaints have been filed against her at the tribunal, many of which relate to enforced disappearances.
A December 15 report from the Commission on Disappearances also directly accused Sheikh Hasina as the “mastermind” of numerous cases of abduction and torture.