Fifteen serving Bangladesh Army officers were sent to jail Wednesday after being produced before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka on charges of crimes against humanity, including enforced disappearances, torture and killings.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order after police brought the officers to court amid tight security. They were later transferred to the cantonment sub-jail.
Those sent to jail include Major Gen. Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, former director of the Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Bureau (CTIB) of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI); Brig. Gen. Md Jahangir Alam, Brig. Gen. Tofayel Mostofa Sarwar, Brig. Gen. Md Kamrul Hasan, Brig. Gen. Md Mahbub Alam, Brig. Gen. Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui and Brig. Gen. Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui, all former senior Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) or DGFI officials.
Others are Col. Anwar Latif Khan, Col. KM Azad, Col. Abdullah Al Momen, Col. Md Sarwar Bin Kashem, Lt. Col. Md Moshiur Rahman Jewel, Lt. Col. Saiful Islam Sumon, Lt. Col. Mohammad Redwanul Islam and Maj. Rafat Bin Alam Moon.
The officers are among dozens accused alongside deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her security adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique and other former officials in three cases filed during the interim government’s tenure. Prosecutors said the charges cover abuses at the Taskforce for Interrogation Cell, the Joint Interrogation Cell and killings during the July–August 2024 uprising that toppled the Hasina government.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said the tribunal’s order followed the officers’ formal arrest and production before the court. Defense lawyers claimed they had voluntarily surrendered to face the charges.
The tribunal directed its registrar to publish notices summoning the remaining accused and set Nov. 5 and Nov. 20 for hearings in the murder and disappearance cases respectively.