TORTURE, DISAPPEARANCES

Prosecution details harrowing accounts in Rab-run cells

ICT rejects accused army officers’ plea for virtual appearance

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The prosecution yesterday presented harrowing accounts of enforced disappearances and torture inside Rab-run TFI cells as the International Crimes Tribunal-1 began hearing the charge framing against Sheikh Hasina and 16 others.

Formal charges have been brought against 17 accused, including Hasina, her former defence adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Ten detained army officers were produced in the dock as Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam read out four charges: ordering, enabling, or failing to prevent enforced disappearances, illegal detention, and torture over an eight-year period.

The tribunal has already appointed three state defence counsels for the seven absconding accused: Hasina, Asaduzzaman, Tareq, three former The

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