International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam labelled former top military officials Lt Gen (retd) Sheikh Mamun Khaled and Lt Gen (retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury as “accomplices of fascism,” whose past actions fall under the definition of crimes against humanity.
Speaking at a briefing on the tribunal premises on Sunday, Aminul said both individuals would be brought to justice for crimes committed during the tenure of Awami regime.
The prosecution has filed separate applications to show the two former generals arrested in connection with two distinct cases. Following a hearing, International Crimes Tribunal-2 directed the authorities to produce them before the court on 7 April.
Masud Uddin Chowdhury is accused of involvement in genocide during the July mass uprising, while Sheikh Mamun Khaled, a former director general of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), faces allegations related to enforced disappearances.
Chief Prosecutor Aminul mentioned that these two officials were involved in activities that undermined democracy and good governance, specifically linking them to the notorious “Aynaghar” (secret detention centres), murders, and disappearances.
He emphasised that the investigations would cover a broad period, starting from the 1/11 political changeover through to the end of the previous “fascist” government’s rule.
Aminul asserted that the goal of these trials is to ensure that no official in a government position ever dares to commit such crimes against humanity again.
“We will bring everyone found involved in the investigation to justice, no matter how powerful they are; we will not work for anyone’s impunity,” the chief prosecutor stated, adding that both investigations and judicial proceedings would remain independent.
Regarding the Abu Sayed murder case, Aminul clarified that the verdict is set for 9 April.
He addressed concerns regarding one individual not being named as an accused in that specific case, explaining that while video footage existed, investigators found no evidence of their direct participation in the killing of Abu Sayed.
However, he noted that the individual was directly involved in violent incidents on the two subsequent days. Legal processes have already begun to arrest and include that person in two separate cases related to those later events.
Records indicate that Masud Uddin Chowdhury was arrested on the night of 23 March from his residence in the Baridhara DOHS area. Sheikh Mamun Khaled was detained from his Mirpur DOHS home on the night of 25 March.
Both former officers have since been placed on remand.
