3 army officers produced before tribunal in disappearance case

Three army officers have been produced before the International Crimes Tribunal in a crimes against humanity case linked to the alleged disappearance and torture of individuals with opposing political views at the Task Force Interrogation (TFI) cell.

The officers were brought to the tribunal at 10:15am on Sunday from the special prison inside Dhaka Cantonment in an air-conditioned green Bangladesh Jail van.

The three officers are former DGFI director Major General Sheikh Md. Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md. Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui.

As scheduled, the tribunal will hold a hearing today on the framing of formal charges against the 13 accused. The prosecution will place its arguments before the three-member panel led by Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder after 11am, followed by submissions from defence counsel. State-appointed defence lawyers will represent the absconding accused.

The fugitive accused in this case, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her former defense adviser Major General (retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddique, former DGFI Director General Lt. General (retd) Mohammad Akbar Hossain, former DG Major General (retd) Saiful Abedin, Lt. General (retd) Md. Saiful Alam, former DG Lt. General Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, former DG Major General (retd) Hamidul Haque, Major General Touhidul Islam, Major General Kabir Ahmed and Lt. Colonel (retd) Makhsurul Haque.

Today's date was fixed for the hearing of the charge sheet on November 23. At the same time, the tribunal appointed state defense for the fugitives. Senior lawyer ZI Khan Panna took over as Sheikh Hasina's lawyer. However, he resigned from his post on December 3 citing health issues and was replaced by Md. Amir Hossain.

On October 22, the three officers in military custody appeared before the tribunal for the first time. After the hearing, they were shown arrested and sent to jail. At the same time, the tribunal ordered the publication of notices in two national newspapers within seven days to summon the fugitives.

Earlier on October 8, the prosecution filed a formal complaint against 13 people in the case. The court took cognizance of the complaint and issued arrest warrants against all of them.