DHAKA: (Oct 22) Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Wednesday ordered 15 serving military officers to be sent to jail to face trial on charges of enforced disappearances, murders, and custodial torture committed during the regime of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The officers, who were already in army custody, were produced before the tribunal amid heavy security. They are accused of participating in systematic human rights violations during last year’s July 2024 uprising, which led to Hasina’s ouster.
The tribunal had earlier, on October 11, directed the army to detain and hand over the officers for trial under crimes against humanity provisions.
According to sources familiar with the proceedings, this is the first time serving officers have been indicted for wartime-style crimes under civilian orders in Bangladesh’s history, marking a major step in accountability efforts following the post-Hasina investigations.