Witness Testimony in TFI Cell Enforced Disappearance Case Deferred Again
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 has once again postponed the recording of witness testimony in the crimes against humanity case concerning alleged enforced disappearances and torture at the Rapid Action Battalion’s (RAB) Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) Cell.
A two-member bench of the Tribunal, led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, fixed 22 June 2026 as the next date for testimony after hearing applications from the defence seeking additional time. The bench’s other member is Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
Defence counsel Barrister Hamidul Misbah informed the Tribunal that Advocate Aminul Gani Tito, who had represented several key accused in the case, had recently passed away. He submitted that the accused required time to appoint new legal counsel. Additional time was also sought on behalf of another defence lawyer, Advocate Tabarak Hossain, due to illness.
Appearing for the Prosecution, Prosecutor Barrister Shyikh Mahdi stated that the scheduled witness was present before the Tribunal and suggested that the witness’s testimony could proceed, with cross-examination to continue later if necessary. Following submissions from both sides, the Tribunal deferred the hearing until 22 June.
The Tribunal was expected to record the testimony of the fifth prosecution witness. The hearing had previously been scheduled for 3 June but was also postponed on that occasion. To date, four witnesses, including Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem Arman, have testified in the case. The evidentiary phase commenced on 21 January 2026.
The case has been brought against 17 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several former senior officials of RAB and other state agencies. According to the Prosecution, the accused were involved in the operation of the TFI Cell, where victims were allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance and torture. Ten accused are currently in custody, while several others remain fugitives.
Relevant news publications in this regard are as follows:
Dhakapost – https://www.dhakapost.com/law-courts/459266
Sarabangla – https://sarabangla.net/news/law-justice/post-1169363/
Somoyer Alo – https://www.shomoyeralo.com/news/367382
BartaBazar – https://bartabazar.com/news/323654/
Naya Diganta – https://dailynayadiganta.com/printed-edition/zIO31Yo53vNB
Jagonews24 – https://www.jagonews24.com/law-courts/news/1127841