15 army officers taken to sub-jail after court appearance

The International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday ordered 15 Bangladesh Army officers, who were in military custody in a case involving crimes against humanity including enforced disappearances, to be sent to jail after they were produced in court. At the same time, the court ordered the publication of a newspaper advertisement for the appearance of other fugitives, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. After the hearing, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told the media that the prison authorities will decide which jail the accused will be in. He said, "They have been ordered to be sent into custody. This means they will be under the authority of the prison authorities. Where the prison authorities will keep them, that is, in which jail or sub-jail, whether they will be kept in Dhaka or sent to Chittagong or somewhere else, this authority belongs to the prison authorities, that is, the government." A few days ago, the government declared a building in the cantonment as a special jail through a special order. It is presumed that these officers may be kept in that jail. Additional Inspector General of Prisons, Colonel Md. Tanvir Hossain, told BBC Bangla, "They have been taken from the court to the sub-jail in the cantonment. They will be there under the supervision of the prison authorities."