ICT set to record testimony against Sheikh Hasina, 16 others today

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 is set to record the testimony of the fifth prosecution witness today in the crimes against humanity case filed over allegations of enforced disappearance and torture at the Rapid Action Battalion's (RAB) Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) cell.

The hearing will take place before a tribunal led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.

According to prosecution sources, a key witness is scheduled to testify in court.

However, the witness's identity has been withheld due to the sensitive nature of the case and security concerns.

The testimony was originally scheduled for June 3 but was deferred following a prosecution request for additional time.

The trial formally entered the witness examination stage on January 21 this year. So far, four witnesses, including victim and rights activist Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman, have testified before the tribunal.

The case names 17 accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, over allegations linked to enforced disappearance and torture during the previous administration.

Of them, seven remain fugitives. The absconding accused include former Defence Adviser Major General (retd.) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, former RAB Directors General M Khurshid Hossain and Barrister Harun-or-Rashid, and former RAB Director Lieutenant Colonel (retd.) Md Khairul Islam.

The remaining 10 accused are currently in custody and being held at a special sub-jail inside Dhaka Cantonment. They include several former senior RAB officials, among them former Additional Director General Brigadier General Md Jahangir Alam, Brigadier General Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Brigadier General Md Kamrul Hasan, Brigadier General Md Mahabub Alam, Colonel KM Azad, Colonel Abdullah Al Momen, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, former RAB Intelligence Director Colonel Md Mashiur Rahman, Lieutenant Colonel Saiful Islam Sumon and Lieutenant Colonel Md Sarwar Bin Kashem.