ISLAMABAD: The Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Sunday ordered the publication of notices in newspapers asking former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and five other absconders to surrender over the killing of nine youths in an alleged staged operation at Jahaj Bari in Mirpur.
The tribunal has fixed March 8 for the next hearing. The order was passed by a two-member bench led by Chairman Justice Muhammad Golam Mortuza Majumder.
According to reports, eight accused are involved in the case. While two are currently under arrest, the tribunal directed authorities to publish notices summoning the remaining six to appear before the court. The two arrested accused are former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque and former DMP commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia.
The absconding accused include former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former DMP additional commissioner Sheikh Muhammad Maruf Hasan, former CTTC chief Monirul Islam, former DMP joint commissioner (crime) Krishna Pad Roy and former joint commissioner (DB) Abdul Baten.
On January 29, the tribunal took cognisance of the formal charges filed against the eight accused and issued arrest warrants.
The prosecution says nine young men were killed during a police operation dubbed “Operation Storm-26” at a house known as Jahaj Bari in Kalyanpur on July 25, 2016.
In an unrelated development, as part of significant restructuring of the military’s top leadership, the Bangladesh Army saw several high-profile reshuffles on Sunday afternoon.
The changes, issued from Army Headquarters, affect key strategic commands as well as the country’s premier military intelligence agency just after the beginning of the new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
The Bangladesh Army has reshuffled several key posts at the top level, including the chief of general staff (CGS), principal staff officer (PSO) and director general of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). According to a source at the defence ministry, Lt Gen Mainur Rahman, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC), has been made the Army’s CGS. The previous CGS, Lt Gen Mizanur Rahman Shamim, recently retired.
Maj Gen Mir Mushfiqur Rahman, GOC of the 24 Infantry Division in Chattogram, has been promoted to lieutenant general and appointed PSO at the Armed Forces Division.
The incumbent PSO, Lt Gen SM Kamrul Hasan, has been transferred to the foreign ministry for his next posting as an ambassador.
Brig Gen Mohammad Kaisar Rashid Chowdhury has been named the new DG of DGFI. He was promoted to major general and moved from the Army Headquarters to the DGFI headquarters.
Current DGFI Director General Maj Gen Mohammad Jahangir Alam has been transferred to the foreign ministry.
Brig Gen Hafizur Rahman, currently serving as defence adviser at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, has been promoted to major general and appointed GOC of the 55 Infantry Division in Jasore.
