War Crimes Tribunal Rejects Virtual Appearance Plea of 10 Army Officers

The International Crimes Tribunal–1 has rejected the plea for virtual appearance submitted by ten army officers detained in a war crimes case filed over alleged enforced disappearances. The officers are Brigadier General Md Jahangir Alam, Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Md Kamrul Hasan, Md Mahabub Alam, K.M. Azad, Colonel Abdullah Al Momen, Anwar Latif Khan (OSD), Lieutenant Colonel Md Mashiur Rahman, Saiful Islam Suman, and Md Sarwar Bin Kashem.

Following the order, the ten accused—arrested in connection with alleged enforced disappearances and torture at the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) Cell during the Awami League’s prolonged rule—must now appear in person before the tribunal for future proceedings.

The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumder, delivered the order on Wednesday, 3 December. The other members of the bench are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District and Sessions Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

Earlier in the day, the accused were brought to the tribunal from prison in a special van.

This war crimes case, filed over allegations of enforced disappearances at the TFI Cell during the tenure of the former Awami League government, names 17 individuals as accused, including the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Among them, seven—Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former Prime Minister’s Adviser Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, among others—are currently absconding.

DBTech/JN/EK/OR