Staff Reporter :
The government has declared a building in Dhaka Cantonment as a temporary prison following the detention of 15 army officers who are wanted under arrest warrants issued by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
The decision came after the officers were taken into army custody. A notification in this regard was issued on Sunday by the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs under its Prison-1 branch.
Signed by Deputy Secretary Md Hafiz Al Asad on behalf of the
President, the gazette states that by the authority granted under Section 541(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 and Section 3(B) of the Prisons Act 1894 the building numbered MES 54 located north of Bashar Road inside Dhaka Cantonment is hereby declared as a temporary prison.
The order was issued with proper authorisation and came into effect immediately. The gazette does not clarify for what specific purpose the building will be used as a temporary prison.
Recently the ICT issued arrest warrants against 24 former and current army officers for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the period of fallen fascism including the July mass uprising.
The authorities were directed to arrest the accused by 21 October and produce them before the tribunal on 22 October.
On 11 October at a press briefing held at the officers mess in Dhaka Cantonment regarding cases in the International Crimes Tribunal involving members of the armed forces Adjutant General of the Bangladesh Army Major General Md Hakimuzzaman said that among those who have been charge sheeted 15 officers are now in army custody in Dhaka.
He said the army had instructed 16 officers to report to custody and 15 complied. He also informed that former military secretary to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Major General Kabir Ahmed is illegally absent and currently absconding.
Commenting on the government order to declare a cantonment building as a temporary prison Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Tazul Islam said that deciding which place will be used as a prison is not a matter for the prosecution or the investigation agency.
He said their responsibility is to proceed according to law. Speaking to journalists at the tribunal premises on Monday he said that if an accused is arrested they must be produced before a court within 24 hours as mandated by the Constitution the Tribunal Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure. After that the court will decide where the accused will be kept.
The government’s decision to declare a building in Dhaka Cantonment as a temporary prison follows the detention of the 15 army officers who are wanted in connection with crimes against humanity cases currently under trial.
