Dhaka: The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today framed charges against 13 individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in a case related to enforced disappearances and torture at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) during the previous Awami League government. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumder, issued the order and scheduled January 19 for the prosecution to present its opening statement.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the charges include allegations against Sheikh Hasina's former security and defense adviser, Tarique Ahmed Siddique, as well as Md Akbar Hossain, Md Saiful Abedin, Md Saiful Alam, Md Tabrej Shams Chowdhury, Hamidul Haque, Mohammad Touhidul Islam, Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Kabir Ahammed, Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui, and Mokhchurul Haque. Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam was present at the hearing, advocating for five charges to be filed against the accused, while defense counsels sought their discharge, asserting their clients' innocence.
Three of the individuals, Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, and Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui, are currently in custody and are standing trial in person. All three have pleaded not guilty before the tribunal.
Previously, on October 8, the tribunal acknowledged charges against 30 people, including Sheikh Hasina, in two separate cases concerning enforced disappearances and torture allegedly conducted at the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) Cell and the JIC during the Awami League's tenure. Additionally, the prosecution has leveled another set of five charges against 17 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and Tarique Ahmed Siddique, for similar offenses purportedly committed at the TFI Cell.
The additional accused in that case are Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Benazir Ahmed, M Khurshid Hossain, Barrister Md Harun Ur Rashid, Anwar Latif Khan, Md Jahangir Alam, Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, KM Azad, Md Qamrul Hasan, Md Mahabub Alam, Abdullah Al Momen, Md Sarwar Bin Qashem, Md Khairul Islam, Md Moshiur Rahman Jewel, and Saiful Islam Suman.