Dhaka, Oct 22 (V7N) — The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh has set Wednesday as the date for the appearance of 32 accused, including 25 former and current army officers, in separate cases related to crimes against humanity.

If the accused fail to appear or are not presented before the tribunal, official notices will be published in two national newspapers directing them to appear, Prosecutor Gazi M.H. Tamim said during a briefing at the ICT premises on Tuesday.

He stated that if the accused are produced before the tribunal and remanded to jail custody, the decision regarding their detention facilities will be made by the prison authorities under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Earlier, on October 8, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 took formal charges into cognizance and issued arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 28 others in two cases of crimes against humanity—allegedly involving abductions, enforced disappearances, and torture during the ousted Awami League administration.

Among the accused are former Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser Major General (Retd.) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and 25 current and former military officers. The Bangladesh Army has confirmed that 15 of the serving officers have been taken into military custody, with a designated building in Dhaka Cantonment temporarily declared as a detention facility.

Responding to questions about the arrest and production of the detained officers before the tribunal, Prosecutor Tamim said the ICT’s registrar office—not the prosecution—would receive updates on the execution of arrest warrants. Once reports are submitted, the tribunal will determine whether the warrants have been executed.

If the accused remain absent even after newspaper notifications, they will be declared fugitives, and the tribunal will appoint state defense lawyers at government expense to represent them, Tamim added.

He further mentioned that if the accused are presented before the tribunal, they may apply for bail, which the tribunal has the discretion to grant or deny. Alternatively, the tribunal may order their placement in judicial custody pending trial.

END/KMD/SMA/