Fifteen army officers accused in the International Crimes Tribunal’s charge sheet for crimes against humanity have been taken into military custody. Among them, 14 are currently serving, while one is on leave prior to retirement (LPR). However, one of the accused, Major General Kabir Ahmed, has reportedly gone into hiding, according to Army Headquarters.
The information was revealed on Saturday (October 11) at a press conference held at Dhaka Cantonment by the Army’s Adjutant General, Major General Md. Hakimuzzaman. He stated, “Of the officers named in the charge sheet, 16 were instructed to report to military custody. So far, 15 have surrendered and are now under custody.”
The officers under arrest warrants include Major General Sheikh Md. Sarwar Hossain, Major General Kabir Ahmed (fugitive), Brigadier General Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Majahar Siddiqui, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, Brigadier General Md. Jahangir Alam, Brigadier General Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Colonel K. M. Azad, Brigadier General Md. Kamrul Hasan, Brigadier General Md. Mahabub Alam, Colonel Abdullah Al Momen, Lieutenant Colonel Sarwar Bin Kashem, Lieutenant Colonel Moshior Rahman Jewel, and Lieutenant Colonel Saiful Islam Suman.
Major General Hakimuzzaman further said that surveillance has been intensified to ensure that the fugitive Kabir Ahmed cannot flee abroad.
He added, “The officers under arrest warrants have been ordered to appear before the tribunal by October 22. However, a legal clarification is needed regarding the nature of this warrant. Once that clarification is received, further action will be taken.”
It may be noted that last Wednesday (October 8), the International Crimes Tribunal issued arrest warrants against 24 current and former army officers on charges of crimes against humanity. Authorities were directed to arrest them by October 21 and produce them before the court on October 22.