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Published : 18 Dec 2025, 03:53 PM
The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered a crimes against humanity case over “enforced disappearances and torture” in joint interrogation cells against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 12 former and current Army officers to trial.
A Tribunal-1 bench led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder gave the order after hearing the arguments of the prosecution and defence on Thursday.
The court then set Jan 19 for the opening statement from the prosecution and the start of recording testimony.
Prosecutors have petitioned the tribunal to frame charges on five counts.
Defence lawyers, meanwhile, sought discharge for all suspects, including the three arrested Army officers.
Of the 13 suspects, three Army officers are in custody. On Thursday, police brought them to the tribunal from the Dhaka Cantonment special jail.
They are:
• Maj Gen Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, former DGFI (CTIB) director
• Brig Gen Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddique, former DGFI (CTIB) director
• Brig Gen Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui, former DGFI (CTIB) director
Hasina and the remaining nine Army officers remain fugitives.
They are:
• Maj Gen Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former defence and security advisor to the PM
• Lt Gen Md Akbar Hossain, former DGFI director general
• Maj Gen Md Saiful Abedin, former DGFI director general
• Lt Gen Md Saiful Alam, former DGFI director general
• Lt Gen Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, former DGFI director general
• Maj Gen Hamidul Haque, former DGFI director general
• Maj Gen Mohammad Touhidul Ul Islam, former DGFI director (CTIB)
• Maj Gen Kabir Ahmad, former DGFI director (CTIB)
• Lt Col Mokhsurul Hoque
The tribunal appointed state defence counsel for the fugitives on Nov 23.
Senior counsel ZI Khan Panna volunteered to represent Hasina that day, but withdrew on Dec 3, leading to the appointment of Md Amir Hossain as her state defence lawyer.
On Oct 22, the three Army officers held in military custody were produced before the tribunal. The court then ordered their formal arrest and committal to jail.
Concurrently, it directed that notices be published in two national newspapers for the appearance of the fugitives.
The order followed the prosecution’s formal filing of charges against the 13 individuals on Oct 8, prompting the tribunal to accept the complaint and issue arrest warrants.
