ICT orders trial against Sheikh Hasina, 12 ex-Army officers

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh has ordered the start of trial proceedings against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 12 retired senior army officers over allegations of enforced disappearances linked to the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC).

A three-member bench of International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder passed the order on Thursday (December 18), following hearings from both the prosecution and the defense.

The other members of the bench are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

In addition to Sheikh Hasina, the accused include several high-ranking retired military officials, among them former major generals, lieutenant generals, a lieutenant colonel, and brigadier generals.

Three of the accused—Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui, and Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain—are currently in custody.

The tribunal framed five formal charges, accusing the defendants of involvement in enforced disappearances carried out between October 22, 2015, and August 6, 2024. Prosecutors allege the crimes were committed through the notorious JIC detention framework.

The prosecution was led by Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, while the defense was represented by a team of senior lawyers, including Azizur Rahman Dulu and others.

Earlier, the tribunal had concluded hearings on charge framing on December 9, setting December 18 for its order.