Key Witness to Testify in RAB TFI Cell Enforced Disappearance Case

A key witness is set to testify today before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) in the enforced disappearance and crimes against humanity case involving the Rapid Action Battalion’s (RAB) Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) cell.

The judicial panel, led by ICT-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, has scheduled the recording of the fifth witness's statement. Due to security concerns, the identity of this vital witness remains undisclosed. Initially scheduled for June 3, the testimony was postponed to today following a time extension request by the prosecution. Since the testimony phase began on January 21, four victims and eyewitnesses, including Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem Arman, have recorded their statements.

The case involves 17 accused. Seven remain fugitives, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her former defense advisor Major General (retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddique, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, former RAB directors general M Khurshid Hossain and Barrister Harun Or Rashid, and former RAB director Lt. Col. (retd) Md. Khairul Islam.

The remaining 10 accused are currently detained at the Dhaka Cantonment special sub-jail. They include former RAB officials Brigadier General Md. Jahangir Alam, Brigadier General Tofail Mostafa Sarwar, Brigadier General Md. Kamrul Hasan, Brigadier General Md. Mahabub Alam, Colonel KM Azad, Colonel Abdullah Al Momen, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, Colonel Md. Mashiur Rahman, Lt. Col. Saiful Islam Sumon, and Lt. Col. Md. Sarwar Bin Kashem.