Tribunal sends 15 army officers to jail

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 today sent 15 serving military officers to jail in connection with two enforced disappearance cases and a July uprising killing case.

The officers, who were in the custody of the Bangladesh Army, were taken to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) around 7:00am amid tight security. Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), and police were deployed in and around the court area. The officers were transported in a green-coloured special prison van with AC facility.

Photo: Rashed Shumon

After today's hearing, the tribunal ordered to send all the 15 officers to jail, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters after the proceedings.

He added that the government, along with the jail authorities, would decide which facility the officers would be placed in.

Photo: Rashed Shumon

They officers are: Maj Gen Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossen; Brigadier Generals Md Jahangir Alam, Tofayel Mostofa Sarwar, Md Qamrul Hasan, Md Mahbub Alam, Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddique and Ahmed Tanvir Majahar Siddique; Colonels Anowar Latif Khan, AKM Azad, Abdullah Al Momen and Md Sarwar Bin Kashem; Lieutenant Colonels Md Moshiur Rahman Jewel, Saiful Islam Sumon and Mohammad Redowanul Islam; and Major Rafat Bin Alam Moon.

The tribunal set November 5 and November 20 as the next hearing dates for the murder case and the two enforced disappearance cases respectively.

Earlier, on October 8, the ICT-1 issued arrest warrants against 32 accused in the cases. Among them, 25 are serving and retired army officers.

Photo: Rashed Shumon

The 32 accused include deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and three former director generals of Rab.

In both enforced disappearance cases, Hasina and Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, who had served as her defence and security adviser, have been named as accused.