The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) will hear three cases today, filed against army officers on charges of crimes against humanity related to enforced disappearances and killings.
Led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, the three-member ICT-1 had rescheduled the date for these hearings on 23 November to Sunday (14 December).
The hearing on framing charges against the 13 accused, including deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and army officers in the enforced disappearance case at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC), is also set to take place.
Additionally, one of the hearings concerns the framing of charges against four individuals, including two army officers, in the incident of 28 murders in Rampura, Dhaka.
The third hearing is regarding the enforced disappearance case at the Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) Cell against 17 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and 10 military officers.
In the enforced disappearance case at the JIC, the hearings for the prosecution and the defence have already concluded.
The hearings for the remaining two crimes against humanity cases will hear arguments against the charges from the defence. Earlier, it was revealed that those who were detained in connection with these three cases will be present during Sunday’s hearings before the tribunal.
Among the 17 accused in the TFI cell enforced disappearance case, all ten individuals currently in police custody are army officers. They are Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, Colonel Md Jahangir Alam, Colonel Tofayel Mustafa Sorwar, Colonel KM Azad, Colonel Md Kamrul Hasan, Colonel Md Mahbub Alam, Colonel Abdullah Al Momen, Lieutenant Colonel Md Sarwar Bin Kashem, Lieutenant Colonel Moshiur Rahman Jewel, and Lieutenant Colonel Saiful Islam Sumon.
The seven absconding are deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, former additional IGP M Khurshid Hossain, former additional IGP Barrister Md. Harun-Ar-Rashid, and Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Khairul Islam.
Furthermore, 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 Abedin, Lieutenant General (retd) Md Saiful Alam, Lieutenant General (retd) Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, Major General (retd) Hamidul Haque, Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Mokhlesur Rahman Haque, Major General (retd) Mohammad Towhidul Islam, Major General Kabir Ahmad, Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddique, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanveer Mazhar Siddique.
Among them, the last three have been arrested. Excluding Sheikh Hasina and Tarique Ahmed Siddique – who stand accused in both these cases – the total number of accused stands at 28.
Among the four accused in the Rampura massacre case, the arrested Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Redwanul Islam and Major Md Rafat-Bin-Alam were serving in Borger Guard Bangladesh at the time of the incident.
The remaining two accused, former additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of police, Md Rashedul Islam and former OC Md Mashiur Rahman, are absconding.
