ICT to Deliver Indictment Order in TFI Cell Enforced Disappearance Case on Dec 21

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today set December 21 for passing its order on charge framing against 17 people, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in a case filed over enforced disappearances and torture at the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) Cell during the previous Awami League government. Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumder, chairman of the three-member panel of ICT-1, passed the order after holding hearing on the matter this noon.

Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam argued in favour of framing four specific charges against the accused, including Sheikh Hasina and security and defence adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, while defence lawyers sought their discharge. The other accused in that case are Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Benazir Ahmed, M Khurshid Hossain, 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.

Of the 17 accused, 10 military officials are in custody right now. Earlier on October 8, the tribunal took cognisance of charges against 30 people, including Sheikh Hasina, in two separate cases over enforced disappearances and torture allegedly carried out at the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) Cell and at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) during the Awami League's rule.

In the JIC case, the accused include Sheikh Hasina; her former security and defence adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique; and 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.