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The testimony in a case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 12 others over alleged detention, enforced disappearance and torture at the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI)’s Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) has been deferred by a day.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Tuesday fixed Wednesday, August 12, for the next testimony after accepting a prosecution request for an adjournment.
Prosecutor Shaikh Mahdi sought the postponement, telling the tribunal that testimony had been scheduled for Tuesday but the designated witness was ill.
The tribunal subsequently granted the prosecution’s request and set August 12 as the new date for recording testimony.
Earlier, on July 22, the case’s sixth witness, Hefazat-e-Islam activist Tajul Islam Sumon, testified before the tribunal.
Three of the 13 accused are currently in custody. They are former DGFI directors Major General Sheikh Mohammad Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui.
The remaining accused have been shown as fugitives in the case. They include former DGFI director general Lieutenant General (retd) Akbar Hossain, Major General (retd) Saiful Abedin, Lieutenant General (retd) Saiful Alam, Lieutenant General (retd) Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, Major General (retd) Hamidul Haque, former DGFI director Major General (retd) Mohammad Touhidul Ul Islam, Major General Kabir Ahmed and Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Makhshurul Haque.
Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her former defence adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique are also accused in the case and have been shown as fugitives.
According to the allegations, 26 people were detained, abducted, subjected to enforced disappearance and tortured at the JIC between October 22, 2015 and August 5, 2024.
The JIC, operated by the DGFI and located behind the DGFI headquarters inside Dhaka Cantonment, has been widely referred to as “Aynaghar.”
The case is being heard by International Crimes Tribunal-1 as part of proceedings concerning alleged crimes against humanity.
