Fifteen army officers accused of separate crimes against humanity and enforced disappearance cases were taken into custody by the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday (October 22). The detainees were transported in green Bangladesh Jail-Prison vans to the tribunal and placed in special detention cells.
The defendants’ lawyer, Md Sarwar Hossain, told reporters after the hearing, “My clients will be held in sub-jails (special detention facility).”
The day marked scheduled appearances for a total of 32 accused in multiple cases linked to disappearances and other crimes during the previous government’s rule. Security forces had been on high alert around the tribunal and surrounding court premises since 4 am.
The 15 officers arrived at the tribunal gate at 7 am in the green prison vans and were brought to holding cells before being formally presented in court at 8:15 am. After signing the required documents, the tribunal ordered that they be returned to custody. Simultaneously, the tribunal issued a notice directing 13 fugitive suspects in enforced disappearance cases to surrender within a week.
Of the 15 officers sent to custody, 14 are currently serving, and one is on leave pending retirement (LPR). They include: former RAB Additional Director General Brigadier General Md Jahangir Alam, Brigadier General Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Brigadier General Md Kamrul Hasan, Brigadier General Md. Mahabub Alam, Brigadier KM Azad, Colonel Abdullah Al Momen, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan (on leave pending retirement), former directors of RAB’s intelligence branch Lieutenant Colonel Md Mashiur Rahman, Lieutenant Colonel Saiful Islam Sumon, Lieutenant Colonel Md Sarwar Bin Kashem, Lieutenant Colonel Md Redwanul Islam, former BGB officer Major Md Rafat-bin-Alam, former DGFI officers Major General Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui.
The tribunal’s order marks a significant step in ongoing proceedings against senior military personnel for crimes against humanity committed during Bangladesh’s previous administration.
Earlier on October 8, the ICT had issued arrest warrants against 25 current and former army officers in connection with two cases related to enforced disappearances and torture, allegedly committed during the 15-and-a-half-year tenure of the previous Awami League government, and another case concerning killings during the July 2024 Uprising.
On the same day, the prosecution had formally submitted the charges in all three cases.
On October 11, the Bangladesh Army announced in a press briefing that 15 officers had been taken into military custody, including one who was on pre-retirement leave (LPR).
Subsequently, on October 12, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification declaring a building inside the Dhaka Cantonment as a temporary prison.
Today (October 22), a three-member bench, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, ordered the imprisonment of 15 army officers in connection with the three cases of crimes against humanity. The two other members of the bench are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. The tribunal directed that all of the accused be sent to prison pending further proceedings.