International Crimes Tribunal-1 has framed five charges against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and a group of former army officers in the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) enforced disappearance case.
It is set for hearing prosecution’s opening statement and witness testimony today. Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder fixed the date on Thursday on behalf of the three-member tribunal.
The other two ICT-1 members are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. This trial formally commenced with the framing of charges.
Ahead of the charge-framing order, the three arrested accused in the case claimed their innocence before the tribunal. They are, Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui.
Appearing for the prosecution were Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, and prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Shyikh Mahdi. Representing the defence were Masud Salauddin, Azizur Rahman Dulal, and Mahin M Rahman.
There are 13 accused in the JIC enforced disappearance case – Sheikh Hasina, Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Lieutenant General (retd) Md Akbar Hossain, Major General (retd) Md Saiful Abedi, Lieutenant General (retd) Md Saiful Alam, Lieutenant General (retd) Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, Major General (retd) Hamidul Haque, Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Makhsurul Haque, Major General (retd) Mohammad Tawhidul Ul Islam, Major General Kabir Ahmed, Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui.
The latter three are currently in custody. They were produced before the tribunal under tight security for the charge-framing order.
In a separate enforced disappearance case related to the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell, an order regarding the framing of charges against 17 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and 10 army officers, is scheduled for 21 December.
