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The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) in Dhaka has submitted the formal charge on three specific grounds of enforced disappearances and killings of more than a hundred people against sacked Major General Ziaul Ahsan.
After a primary hearing on Wednesday, the ICT-1 headed by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder took into cognizance the formal charge brought against him in a crimes against humanity case.
The tribunal also set December 21 for a hearing on framing charge.
Earlier on the day, the prosecution submitted the charge before the tribunal's registrar office, said prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim.
Later ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam appeared before the tribunal seeking the court's formal acceptance of the charge submission.
In the formal charge, the prosecution stated that Sajal and three unidentified individuals were shot dead on the night of July 11, 2011 beside the Dhaka Bypass Road in Pubail under Sadar Police Station in Gazipur, following a plan and with the direct participation of accused Ziaul Ahsan.
The prosecution further alleged that between 2010 and 2013, at least 50 people, including Nazrul Islam Mallick and Alkas Mallick, were shot dead at the Baleshwar River estuary near the Charduani area under Patharghata Police Station in Barguna district, and their bodies were concealed, pursuant to the planning and direct participation of the accused.
It was also alleged that from 2010 to 2013, at least 50 people, including Masud, were shot dead by accused Ziaul Ahsan in the name of suppressing so-called forest bandits in the Baleshwar River area of Barguna district and in various areas of the Sundarbans under Sharankhola Police Station in Bagerhat district.
The formal charge further read that Ziaul Ahsan had involvement in other disappearance cases, including those of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed and Chowdhury Alam, and separate investigations into those allegations are still ongoing.
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