JIC disappearance-torture case testimony deferred against Sheikh Hasina, 12 others

Testimony in the crimes against humanity case filed over disappearances and torture at the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 13 others has been deferred by a day. The tribunal set a new date for testimony on Wednesday, August 12, as a witness was ill.

The single bench of Justice Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 set the date on Tuesday, August 11.

Prosecutor Shaikh Mahdi sought time on behalf of the prosecution. He said testimony was scheduled for Tuesday, but the witness was ill. The court granted the application and set the new date for Wednesday.

Earlier, on July 22, the cross-examination of Hefazat-e-Islam activist Tajul Islam Sumon, who gave his statement as the sixth witness, was completed. The tribunal recorded his testimony on June 18. In his statement, he described the horrors of torture and enforced disappearance during his eight years in captivity. He sought justice against Sheikh Hasina and those involved in disappearances for being kept in captivity in false cases simply for being involved in Hefazat-e-Islam's politics.

Of the 13 accused in the case, three are in custody. They are former DGFI Director Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddique, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddique. They were produced before the tribunal today (Tuesday).

Among the 10 fugitive accused, five had served as Director General (DG) of DGFI at various times. They are Lieutenant General (retd.) Mohammad Akbar Hossain, Major General (retd.) Saiful Abedin, Lieutenant General (retd.) Md Saiful Alam, Lieutenant General (retd.) Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, and Major General (retd.) Hamidul Haque.

The remaining accused are: former defence adviser to Sheikh Hasina Major General (retd.) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former DGFI director Major General (retd.) Mohammad Touhidul Ul Islam, Major General Kabir Ahammed, and Lieutenant Colonel (retd.) Mokhshurul Haque.

On October 8, 2025, Tribunal-1 took cognisance of the prosecution's charges against the 13 accused. On December 18, formal charges were framed and orders were issued to begin the trial.