Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) will most likely issue a supplementary list containing the names of three to four more army officers who were allegedly involved in acts of commission during former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s long tenure between 2008 and 2024.
Even as rumblings of discontent were expressed among most sections of the Bangladesh Army’s officer corps, at least half-a-dozen generals met today in an undisclosed location in Dhaka to discuss the fallout of the arrest warrants issued against 24 officers, including one lieutenant and four major generals, for their alleged roles in enforced disappearances, secret detention and torture during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.
At the core of the discontent within the army is whether the officers should be tried under civil laws, including specific sections of the Bangladesh Penal Code, or court-marshaled under the 1952 Army Act.
In this context, Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman met Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus on September 1, urging him to delink the names of the officers facing criminal prosecution in the ICT not only for their alleged involvement in alleged extra-judicial killings during Hasina’s tenure but also for their questionable roles during the July-August 2024 uprising.
It may be recalled that Gen Zaman had also met Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed to seek his opinion on which sets of laws – civilian penal regulations or court martial under the Army Act of 1952 – would apply in the case of the 24 officers.
He also sought to know the legal bases and processes involved in dissociating the targeted officers from cases in which they have been charged in the ICT.
As if this “grave issue” was not enough to rile the army, it is reliably learnt that the ICT may include a supplementary list containing the names of three to four other officers against whom it wants to move legally under specific civilian laws.
The ICT’s “uncompromising” move is expected to cause disaffection with the Bangladesh Army’s rank and file.
Among the targeted officers is a lieutenant colonel and a major (who were allegedly involved in the killing of 28 people during the July 2024 uprising) who are part of a strict hierarchical structure where unit loyalty and camaraderie are strong.
On October 8, the ICT took cognisance of the charges against the army officers and issued arrest warrants which have to be executed by October 22 which is the next date of hearing at the ICT where the accused persons are slated to be produced in-person.
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ICT Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, who had been playing a leading role in the cases against the army officers, said on October 9 that the tribunal had sent the arrest warrants against 28 persons, including the 24 army officers, to the Inspector General of Police and 12 designated offices for action on their part.
The 12 offices include that of the army chief, Chief of General Staff, Adjutant General, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, DG NSI, Principal Staff Officer (Armed Forces Division), Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Director of Military Intelligence, Director of Personnel Service Directorate (Bangladesh Army), Army Security Unit Commandant, the Provost Marshal and the Army MP Unit for Information CEO.
