Dhaka, Nov 23 (V7N) – Thirteen military officers are set to appear today before the International Crimes Tribunal in separate cases related to enforced disappearances and killings at the RAB’s Task Force Interrogation (TFI) and the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) during the Awami League’s long tenure. Maximum security has been deployed around the tribunal premises for the proceedings.

Since early morning, joint patrols by police, RAB, and BGB have been visible, alongside members of various intelligence agencies in plain clothes.

The hearings for the two cases will be conducted by a three-member bench of Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder. Previously, hearings were scheduled for November 20 but were postponed and rescheduled by a two-member bench led by Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud on October 26.

On October 22, thirteen military officers had been summoned to the tribunal and sent to jail following the hearing. The prosecution formally filed charges against a total of 30 individuals in two separate cases on October 8, leading to arrest warrants and the scheduling of hearings on October 22.

In the TFI case, 17 individuals—including Sheikh Hasina, former defense advisor Major General (Retd.) Tariq Ahmed Siddique, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, former RAB DG M Khurshid Hossain, former RAB Director General Barrister Harun-ur-Rashid, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, Brigadier General Jahangir Alam, Tofail Mostafa Sarwar, RAB officer KM Azad, Brigadier General Kamrul Hasan, Mahbub Alam, Abdullah Al Momen, Sarwar bin Kashem, Khairul Islam, Moshiur Rahman Jewel, and Saiful Islam Sumon—were accused of torture and unlawful detention. Ten of these officers appeared on October 22.

In the JIC case concerning enforced disappearances, 13 individuals were charged, including Sheikh Hasina and Tariq Ahmed Siddique, alongside former DGFI directors Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Mohammad Akbar Hossain, Major General (Retd.) Saiful Abedin, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Mohammad Saiful Alam, former DG Lt. Gen. Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, former DG Major General (Retd.) Hamidul Haque, Major General Touhidul Islam, Major General Sarwar Hossain, Major General Kabir Ahmad, Brigadier General Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Majhar Siddiqui, and Lt. Colonel (Retd.) Makhsoorul Haque.

The thirteen officers currently in custody include Brigadier General Md. Jahangir Alam (former RAB Additional Director General), Brigadier General Tofail Mostafa Sarwar, Brigadier General Md. Kamrul Hasan, Brigadier General Md. Mahbub Alam, KM Azad (RAB), Colonel Abdullah Al Momen, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan (on retired leave), former RAB intelligence director Lt. Colonel Moshiur Rahman, Lt. Colonel Saiful Islam Sumon, Lt. Colonel Md. Sarwar bin Kashem, former DGFI director Major General Sheikh Md. Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md. Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Majhar Siddiqui.

These proceedings mark a significant moment in holding military officials accountable for human rights violations during enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh.

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