Strong security measures in place as 13 Army personnel taken to tribunal

They previously appeared at the tribunal on Oct 22

Thirteen Army officers have been taken to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in a case over their alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and crimes against humanity committed during the 15-year rule of the Awami League government.

They were brought to Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, in a prison van amid tight security around 10am on Sunday.

Before that, Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police personnel were deployed to strengthen security near the tribunal and in the Mazar Gate area.

At least 10 out of the 17 accused in the case over the torture of detainees held in RAB's Task Force Interrogation (TFI) cell (also known as “Ayna Ghor” cells), were taken to the tribunal today.

They are:

• Former RAB additional director general (ops) Brig Gen Md Jahangir Alam

• Former RAB additional director general (ops) Brig Gen Tofail Mostafa Sarwar

• Former RAB additional director general (ops) Brig Gen Md Kamrul Hassan

• Former RAB additional director general (ops) Brig Gen Md Mahbub Alam

• Former RAB director (Intelligence Wing) Lt Col Md Moshiur Rahman Jewel

• Former RAB director (Intelligence Wing) Lt Col Saiful Islam Sumon

• Former RAB additional director general (ops) Col Abdullah Al Momen

• Former RAB additional director general (ops) Col Anwar Latif Khan (now in LPR)

• Former RAB additional director general (ops) Col KM Azad

• Former RAB director (Intelligence Wing) Lt Col Md Sarwar Bin Quasem

Seven accused in the case, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and her defence and security advisor retired Maj Gen Tarique Ahmed Siddique, are absconding.

Three of the 13 accused arrested in the case of torture in the Army's Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) have been taken to the tribunal. They are—

• Former DGFI (CTIB) director Brig Gen Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddique

• Former DGFI (CTIB) director Brig Gen Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui -- also the former media chief of the agency

• Former DGFI (CTIB) director Maj Gen Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain

Ten accused in the case, including ousted prime minister Hasina and her defence advisor Tarique, are absconding.

Earlier, on Oct 22, a total of 15 Army officers arrested in three cases were presented before the tribunal. The other suspects were accused in a case of crimes against humanity over the killing of 28 people in Dhaka’s Rampura-Banasree area during the July Uprising.