15 serving army officers jailed for ‘atrocities’ during Hasina tenure

DHAKA: Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Wednesday sent 15 serving army officers to jail to face trial on charges of enforced disappearances, murders and custodial tortures during former PM Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. The officers were taken into custody by the army on Oct 11 after a special tribunal ordered their arrest in cases of atrocities linked to the Taskforce for Interrogation Cell and the Joint Interrogation Cell.The tribunal did not hear any bail petitions, noting there is a formal process for such petitions, and the officers could submit formal applications before the next hearing on Nov 5, chief prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters. “The Bangladesh army has extended cooperation to the judicial process,” he said. Defence counsel M Sarwar Hossain said the accused would be kept in a sub-jail inside the cantonment.ICT is also likely to set the date for delivering its verdict in ‘crimes against humanity’ cases— committed last year — filed against Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police IG Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Prosecutor Mizanul Islam said the state-appointed counsel for Hasina and Khan, as well as the defence lawyer representing approver Mamun, concluded their arguments on Wednesday.