The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered the framing of formal charges against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 12 current and former army officers over alleged crimes against humanity, including disappearances and torture at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) during the Awami League government.
The order was given by the three-member ICT-1, headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, on Thursday.
Prosecution team present at the hearing included Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Gazi MH Tamim, and Shaikh Mahdi.
The tribunal had initially scheduled the framing of charges for December 14, but the process was reset on Thursday.
Arrested accused produced
Police produced three accused before the tribunal, including former DGFI director Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui.
Five of the remaining 10 absconding accused previously served as DGFI director generals, including Lieutenant General (retd) Mohammad Akbar Hossain, Major General (retd) Saiful Abedin, Lieutenant General (retd) Md Saiful Alam, Lieutenant General (retd) Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, and Major General (retd) Hamidul Haque.
Other accused include Sheikh Hasina’s former defence adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former DGFI director Major General (retd) Mohammad Touhidul Islam, Major General Kabir Ahmed, and Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Makhsurul Haque.
The prosecution filed a formal complaint against 13 individuals on October 8, after which the court issued arrest warrants. The case relates to 26 disappearances between October 22, 2015, and August 5, 2024, and alleged torture of anti-government figures in the JIC cell.
On October 22, the three army officers in military custody were produced before the tribunal, arrested, and sent to prison. The tribunal also ordered advertisements in two national newspapers to summon the fugitive accused.
Earlier, on November 9, lawyer Azizur Rahman Dulu sought the release of the three arrested accused, citing illegal detention, kidnapping, torture, and disappearance. The tribunal said these grounds would be taken into consideration.
The chief prosecutor presented five charges during a hearing on December 7, detailing the alleged torture and disappearances. Following the hearing, the tribunal directed the framing of charges against all 13 accused.
Sheikh Hasina initially had senior lawyer ZI Khan Panna as her state defence counsel, who later withdrew due to illness. Md Amir Hossain was subsequently appointed to represent her.
