ICT sets Feb 8 for start of trial in crimes against humanity case against ex-Army officer Ziaul

The case comprises three specific charges involving more than 100 alleged enforced disappearances and murders

The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered a crimes against humanity case against former Army officer Ziaul Ahsan involving more than 100 alleged enforced disappearances and murders to trial.

The tribunal has fixed Feb 8 for the prosecution’s opening statement and the start of witness testimony.

The decision was made on Wednesday by a three-member bench of International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.

The bench set the date after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence on Jan 8.

Senior lawyer Mansurul Haque Chowdhury and Ziaul’s sister, lawyer Naznin Nahar, represented him and opposed the framing of the three charges brought by the prosecution.

They argued that, according to information and data from the state, Ziaul had no involvement in the alleged incidents and sought his discharge from the case.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam countered the defence arguments, presenting before the tribunal the statements of two individuals who had earlier given testimony to the investigating officer.

The prosecution concluded its hearing on formal charge framing on Jan 4, placing before the tribunal a detailed account of Ziaul’s alleged criminal activities.

Based on the evidence on record, the chief prosecutor sought the framing of charges against the accused.

The case comprises three specific charges.

According to the prosecution, the first charge involves the killing of three people, including Sajal, in the direct presence of Ziaul on the night of Jul 11, 2011, beside the Pubail Road under Gazipur Sadar Police Station.

The second charge concerns the killing of 50 people, including Nazrul Islam Mallik, between 2010 and 2013 at the mouth of the Baleshwari River near the Charduany Canal in Charduany Union of Patharghata Upazila in Barguna.

The third charge alleges the killing of another 50 people in different parts of the Sundarbans, including areas of the Baleshwari River in Barguna and Sarankhola in Bagerhat, under the pretext of suppressing alleged forest bandits.

On Dec 23, Tribunal-1 ordered Ziaul’s arrest and sent him to prison in connection with the crimes against humanity case.

The tribunal took the three charges into cognisance on Dec 17, the same day the prosecution submitted its formal charges.