ICT schedules hearings for enforced disappearance cases on Dec 3, 7

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 has scheduled hearings for December 3 and December 7 in two high-profile cases related to enforced disappearances and torture that occurred at the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) Cell and the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) during the tenure of the previous Awami League government, reports BSS.

The tribunal, which is led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued the order following a request from the prosecution. On December 3, the court will conduct a hearing to frame charges in the case regarding enforced disappearances and torture at the TFI Cell, while on December 7, the tribunal will hear the indictment in the case related to the crimes at the JIC.

In both cases, the court appointed senior advocate ZI Khan Panna to represent ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The hearing on November 23 was attended by 13 of the 30 accused, all of whom are officials of the Bangladesh Army. Among the accused present were Md Jahangir Alam, Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Md Qamrul Hasan, Md Mahabub Alam, KM Azad, Abdullah Al Momen, Md Moshiur Rahman Jewel, Saiful Islam Suman, Md Sarwar Bin Qashem, Anwar Latif Khan, Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, and Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui.

On October 22, ICT-1 ordered the detention of these 13 individuals, along with two others—Mohammad Redwanul Islam and Rafat Bin Alam—who are charged in a separate crimes against humanity case. The tribunal also directed the publication of notices in both Bengali and English newspapers calling on fugitive accused to appear before the court.

Earlier, on October 8, the ICT-1 took cognizance of charges against 30 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, in connection with two cases related to enforced disappearances and torture. The prosecution has leveled five charges against 13 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and her former security and defense adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, for crimes committed at the JIC. Additional charges have been brought against other accused individuals, including senior officials and former government figures.

In the separate case related to the TFI Cell, another set of five charges has been brought against 17 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and Tarique Ahmed Siddique. Other accused in this case include former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, and several top officials from the Bangladesh Army and law enforcement agencies.