Testimony against Sheikh Hasina, 16 others scheduled today

The testimony of the fifth witness in a crimes against humanity case over allegations of enforced disappearances and torture involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 16 others is scheduled to be recorded on Sunday (14 June).

The hearing will take place before a judicial panel of the International Crimes Tribunal led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.

The prosecution had earlier informed the tribunal that one witness would testify on 14 June. However, the witness's identity has not been disclosed for security reasons.

The testimony was originally scheduled for 3 June, but the tribunal rescheduled it following a prosecution request.

So far, four witnesses, including Member of Parliament Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman, have given statements in the case. The witness testimony phase began on 21 January this year.

Of the 17 accused, 10 have been arrested and are currently being held at the sub-jail inside the Dhaka Cantonment. They include former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials Brig Gen Md Jahangir Alam, Brig Gen Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Brig Gen Md Kamrul Hasan, Brig Gen Md Mahabub Alam, Col KM Azad, Col Abdullah Al Momen, Col Anwar Latif Khan, former RAB Intelligence Director Col Md Mashiur Rahman, Lt Col Saiful Islam Sumon, and Lt Col Md Sarwar Bin Kashem.

The seven fugitives are former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her former defence adviser Maj Gen (Retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, former RAB Director General M Khurshid Hossain, former RAB Director General Barrister Harun Or Rashid, and former RAB Director Lt Col (Retd) Md Khairul Islam.