Enforced disappearances used to instill fear, silence opposition: Tajul Islam

The Chief Prosecutor of International Crime Tribunal (ICT), Muhammad Tajul Islam, has said that enforced disappearances were used to instil fear among the public, silence political opposition and sustain fascism in the country.

Tajul made the remarks during his opening statement in a case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 16 others, who are accused of crimes against humanity, including enforced disappearance and torture at Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell during the Awami League regime.

He alleged that a group of security personnel acted as mercenaries to carry out the objectives of a fascist state plan. 

Following his opening statement, the ICT-1 began examining prosecution witnesses.

The tribunal had on December 23, 2025, framed charges against 17 accused, including 10 army officers.

Of the 17 accused, 10 army officers have been arrested. They are: Md Jahangir Alam, Tofail Mostafa Sarwar, Md Kamrul Hasan, Md Mahbub Alam, K M Azad, Abdullah Al Momen, Anwar Latif Khan, Md Mashiur Rahman, Saiful Islam Sumon and Md Sarwar Bin Kashem.

The remaining seven accused are absconding, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former defence adviser Major General (Retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, former RAB director generals M Khurshid Hossain and Barrister Harun-or-Rashid and former RAB director Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Md Khairul Islam.

SH