The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) on Wednesday ordered 15 serving Bangladesh Army officers to be sent to jail in connection with two enforced disappearance cases and a murder case linked to last year’s July uprising.

The officers, previously in army custody, were brought to the tribunal around 7am under tight security. Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and police were deployed in and around the court area. They were transported in a green, air-conditioned prison van.

Following the hearing, the tribunal ordered all 15 officers to be sent to jail. “The tribunal has given the order, and the government and jail authorities will decide where they will be kept,” Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters.

The officers are: Maj Gen Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossen; Brig Gens Md Jahangir Alam, Tofayel Mostofa Sarwar, Md Qamrul Hasan, Md Mahbub Alam, Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddique, and Ahmed Tanvir Majahar Siddique; Cols Anowar Latif Khan, AKM Azad, Abdullah Al Momen, and Md Sarwar Bin Kashem; Lt Cols Md Moshiur Rahman Jewel, Saiful Islam Sumon, and Mohammad Redowanul Islam; and Maj Rafat Bin Alam Moon.

The tribunal fixed November 5 for the July uprising murder case and November 20 for the two disappearance cases.

Earlier, on October 8, ICT-1 issued arrest warrants against 32 accused, including deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and three former RAB chiefs.

MN/