The International Crimes Tribunal-1 today deferred its order on charge framing in a crimes against humanity case filed against 17 people, including 12 army officers, over allegations of enforced disappearances during the Awami League tenure.
The tribunal was scheduled to decide today whether charges would be framed or the accused discharged. However, after hearing submissions from defence counsel representing three of the accused, the tribunal rescheduled December 23 for passing the order.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. Earlier, the tribunal had also heard discharge submissions from defence lawyers representing the other accused in the case.
Ten former Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) officers, who were seconded from the army, were produced before the tribunal today. They are Brig Gen Md Qamrul Hasan, Brig Gen Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Brig Gen Md Mahbub Alam, Brig Gen Md Jahangir Alam, Col AKM Azad, Col Abdullah Al Momen, Col Md Sarwar Bin Kashem, Col Anowar Latif Khan, Lt Col Md Moshiur Rahman Jewel, and Lt Col Md Saiful Islam Sumon.
The case relates to the alleged enforced disappearance, secret detention and torture of 14 individuals between 2016 and 2024 at the Taskforce Interrogation (TFI) cell, which was allegedly operated under Rab.
According to the prosecution, three secret detention centres—collectively known as “Aynaghar,” including the semi-underground TFI cell—were used for unlawful detention. The prosecution also alleged that timer-fitted bombs had been planted at the facilities to target the investigation team.
Meanwhile, two more army officers were produced before the tribunal today as the defence placed its discharge submissions in a separate case over the killings of 28 people and crimes against humanity in Rampura during the July uprising last year.
They are former Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) official Lt Col Redwanul Islam, Major Md Rafat Bin Alam Mun, and two police officers.
After court proceedings, the defence told journalists that reports of courts of inquiry conducted by the army and Border Guard Bangladesh found no casualties resulting from the firing or activities of the accused officers. However, the prosecution’s formal charges said that 28 people were killed. The defence argued that the deaths were not caused by the accused officers.
The tribunal has fixed December 24 for issuing its order on whether charges will be framed or the accused discharged in the Rampura case.