The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) has set 9 April as the date for cross-examination of prosecution witness Iqbal Chowdhury of Nabinagar, Brahmanbaria, who was once held captive at the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) run by the Defence Intelligence Directorate (DGFI).
The date was fixed by the ICT on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Mizanul Islam said the defence lawyers sought time due to personal difficulties, prompting the tribunal to set 9 April for the next round of cross-examinations.
Earlier, on 2 and 5 March, Iqbal Chowdhury testified before the ICT about his experiences of captivity at the JIC.
Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 12 current and former army officers are accused in this case, with the trial beginning on 18 December after charges were framed.
The accused in the JIC disappearance case are Sheikh Hasina, Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Lieutenant General (retd) Md Akbar Hossain, Major General (retd) Md Saiful Abedin, Lieutenant General (retd) Md. Saiful Alam, Lieutenant General (retd) Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, Major General (retd) Hamidul Haque, Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Maksudul Haque, Major General (retd) Mohammad Towhidul Ul Islam, Major General Kabir Ahmed, Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddique, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddique.
Among the accused, the last three are currently in custody.
