In a landmark legal move, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal-1 has issued arrest warrants for 28 individuals, including high-ranking former and serving military officers, for their alleged roles in a system of secret detention centers. The charges, formally filed by Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam, accuse them of crimes against humanity, specifically enforced disappearances and torture.
The cases focus on two clandestine facilities, infamously known as ‘Aynaghar’ or ‘house of mirrors,’ which were allegedly operated inside the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-1) office in Uttara.
High-Profile Accused and Command Responsibility
The list of accused is notable for its seniority, naming 22 high-ranking army officers. Among them are former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her ex-home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and her former defense adviser, Major General (retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, who are charged under the principle of superior command responsibility.
Crucially, nine of the accused are currently serving officers in the army. The tribunal has directed that copies of the arrest warrants be sent to military authorities to facilitate their apprehension. Other prominent figures named include former RAB directors general Benazir Ahmed (a former police chief), Khurshid Hossain, and Harun ur Rashid.
The shadowy network was brought to light following a political transition in August 2024. The interim government that assumed power reported discovering these facilities and freeing numerous individuals who had allegedly been held there illegally during the previous administration.
Scope of the Charges and Investigation
The prosecution has built two separate but linked cases. One details the alleged enforced disappearances and torture of 26 people within the DGFI headquarters, while the other covers similar crimes against 13 individuals at the RAB-1 facility. The investigation identified that the DGFI center alone contained 22 cells used for illegal detention.
Prominent among the named survivors are suspended Brigadier General Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, son of a former Islamist leader, and Supreme Court lawyer Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman. Several survivors were present in the courtroom and are listed as key witnesses for the prosecution.
Prosecutor Shyikh Mahdi emphasized that the investigation targeted those in command roles responsible for authorizing and overseeing the operations, rather than the field-level personnel who carried out the abductions.
Legal Context and Broader Implications
The tribunal, after reviewing the charges, found prima facie evidence to proceed under the International Crimes Tribunal Act. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam stated that the accused face charges for their direct participation, command, instigation, or failure to prevent these systematic crimes.
He further clarified that, following a recent legal amendment, the nine serving army officers named in the warrants are now disqualified from continuing their service.
This prosecution aligns with the findings of a national Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, which in a 2025 report documented over 1,350 verified cases and recommended the disbanding of the Rapid Action Battalion. The commission’s investigation had previously pointed to the involvement of Sheikh Hasina and senior security officials in the enforced disappearance system.
The tribunal has set October 22 for its next procedural order as the state begins its pursuit of the accused, all of whom are currently at large.