Army officers in custody in three separate cases of disappearances and murders committed by the TFI-JIC cell during the long Awami League rule and crimes against humanity committed in July-August have been brought to the International Crimes Tribunal.

They were brought to the tribunal in a prison van under tight security at 7:15 am today (Wednesday). At 7:30 am, police members took them out of the prison van and took them to the tribunal's detention center.

The army officers brought to the tribunal are Brigadier General Md. Jahangir Alam, Major General Mustafa Sarwar, Brigadier General Md. Kamrul Hasan, Brigadier General Md. Mahabub Alam, Lt. Colonel Sarwar Bin Kashem, Colonel Mashiul Rahman Jewel, Lt. Colonel Saiful Islam Sumon, Major General Sheikh Md. Sarwar Hossain, Major General Kabir Ahmed, Brigadier General Md. Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, Lt. Colonel Makhchurul Haque (retd.), Brigadier General Tofail Mustafa Sarwar and Colonel KM Azad.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is set to hear the formal charges against them in three separate cases involving disappearances, murders and crimes against humanity committed in July-August by the TFI-JIC cell during the long Awami League rule.

The hearing will begin shortly before a three-member judicial panel led by Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies are on alert at various points in the capital, including Kakrail, Matsya Bhaban, and Paltan, to prepare for the presentation of army officers to the tribunal. Security has been beefed up since dawn in the Mazargate area of ​​the High Court, including the tribunal. Along with the police and RAB, members of the BGB and army have also been seen here. Overall, security has been beefed up extensively.

At a press briefing at the tribunal premises on Tuesday, Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said that the army officers in custody have a date set for their appearance in the tribunal. However, if they do not appear, notices will be published in two newspapers for their appearance. And if they appear and the tribunal orders them to be sent to jail, the prison authorities under the Ministry of Home Affairs will decide which prison they will be kept in.

The prosecution has filed a formal complaint against 17 people, naming Sheikh Hasina as the main accused, in the case of the disappearance and torture of opposition members during the long rule of the Awami League and keeping them in secret cells of the RAB Task Force Interrogation (TFI). The complaint was filed on October 8. Later, after the hearing, a three-member judicial panel led by Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder issued arrest warrants against them and ordered them to appear before it today.

On the same day, a formal complaint was filed against Hasina and Tariq, along with 13 others, in another case alleging disappearances in the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC). Warrants were issued against them. In addition, the prosecution filed a formal complaint against four others, including BGB officer Lieutenant Colonel Redwanul Islam, in a case of crimes against humanity in the killing of 28 people in Rampura in the capital surrounding the July-August movement. In total, 25 army officers are involved in these three cases. On October 9, the army headquarters said that 15 army officers had been taken into custody.

After the formal complaint was filed, the hearing began at the tribunal to take cognizance of the case. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam conducted the hearing for the prosecution. Later, he requested that the charges against the accused be taken into consideration and brought to trial. After the hearing, the charges were taken into consideration and an arrest warrant was issued against them and they were ordered to appear before the tribunal by today.