Newspaper summons to be issued if 15 army officers fail to appear ICT today
Staff Reporter :
Fifteen current and former Bangladesh Army officers accused of crimes against humanity – including enforced disappearance, murder, and torture – must be produced or appear before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) by tomorrow, or summons notices will be published in two national newspapers ordering them to surrender and face trial, Prosecutor Gazi MAE Tamim said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters at the tribunal premises, Tamim said, “The tribunal has already issued arrest warrants against several former and current army officers. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) was directed to execute the order, and copies of the warrants were sent to the heads of the respective forces.”
Under the International Crimes Tribunal Act, the prosecutor explained, the accused may either appear voluntarily or be arrested and brought before the court by law enforcement.
15 army officers in military custody must be produced before tribunal within 24 hours: ICT chief prosecutor “Once the accused are produced, the tribunal may decide to grant bail if justified, or send them to jail – the relevant authorities will then determine the place of custody,” Tamim said.
He added, “If they fail to appear or are not produced tomorrow, the tribunal will fix a new date. On that date, notices with their summons will be published in two national newspapers. Failure to appear again would result in them being declared absconding.”
“In that situation, the tribunal will appoint state defence counsel at the government’s expense to represent the accused, as provided under tribunal law,” he noted.
Tamim further stated, “The prosecution does not receive direct information on whether the 15 army officers have been arrested or are currently in custody. Since the tribunal issued the warrants, it is the registrar’s office that delivered them to the relevant authorities and will receive any updates in this regard.”
“The tribunal will announce tomorrow whether it has received any report or information,” the prosecutor said. “If a non-execution report has been received, the prosecution will inform the tribunal of the applicable legal provisions for the next steps.”
Enforced disappearance: ICT arrest warrants for 30 sent to 12 authorities including police, army, and DGFI On October 11, the Bangladesh Army Headquarters confirmed that 15 officers – against whom the ICT had issued arrest warrants in separate cases involving enforced disappearances and torture during the Awami League’s tenure – had been taken into military custody.
Earlier, on October 8, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 issued arrest warrants for 30 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in two separate cases over abduction and enforced disappearance.
The warrants were sent to the IGP and 12 other relevant authorities – including the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of General Staff, Adjutant General (Army Headquarters), Director General of DGFI, Director General of NSI, Principal Staff Officer (Armed Forces Division), Secretary to the Chief Adviser’s Office, Director of Military Intelligence, Director of Personnel Service Directorate (Bangladesh Army), Commandant of the Army Security Unit, Provost Marshal, and CEO of the Army MP Unit – for necessary action.