Tajul demands 15 army officers be brought to court

Staff Correspondent

The 15 army officers who are now in the custody of the army after arrest warrants were issued in a case of crimes against humanity must be brought to court, said Mohammad Tajul Islam, the chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, where they will be tried.

Tajul Islam made the remarks at a briefing at the tribunal premises on Sunday, a day after the army chief’s press conference announcing the detention of 15 officers.

Tajul Islam said that the matter was not officially reported to the tribunal despite the army chief holding a press conference, “Since no one has officially told us in a documentary manner that he has been detained, we are not taking into account what has come out in the media. Since we do not know, I will not comment on this matter. If we are told that he has been detained, then according to the law, he must be brought to the court. That is the provision.”

Of the 25 officers who have been issued arrest warrants in three cases by the International Crimes Tribunal, 15 are still serving in the army. The remaining 14, except for one, and one who is on retirement preparatory leave (LPR) will be taken into custody, Army Adjutant General Major General Md. Hakimuzzaman said at a press conference on Saturday.

The International Crimes Tribunal issued arrest warrants against them on October 8 in two cases of disappearances and torture during the previous Awami League regime and one case of killings in the Rampura and Banasree areas during the July uprising.

After heated discussions and demands for their arrest, the army chief expressed his position on the matter and said that the army is in favor of justice. Action will be taken against the officers in custody according to the law.

Journalists asked Tajul what the status of the 15 army officers who are in the custody of the army will be. Are they now under arrest?

In response, Tajul Islam said, “It is in the constitution, the law of the International Criminal Tribunal, and the Code of Criminal Procedure that wherever an arrest is made, he must be brought to court within 24 hours, excluding the time spent in court. This is the provision of the law.”