During Ershad’s time, Sheikh Hasina was imprisoned and kept under me, Aman Azmi in cross-examination

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Former army officer Abdullahil Aman Azmi said in the cross-examination that during Ershad’s military regime, Sheikh Hasina, Matia Chowdhury and Sahara Khatun were imprisoned in 1983 and kept under his command at the Hare Road residence in the capital. At that time he was in charge of ‘Martial Law’.

Abdullahil Aman Azmi said this during the cross-examination of the lawyer of the accused at the International Criminal Tribunal-1 on Monday. He was interrogated by Azizur Rahman, the lawyer of the accused, in a case of crimes against humanity committed in connection with the disappearance of the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) during the rule of the Awami League government.

Abdullahil Aman Azmi said in the cross-examination, “I met Sheikh Hasina several times in 1983. During Ershad’s military regime, I lived with my company in a house on Hare Road and practiced martial law. Then Sheikh Hasina, Matia Chowdhury and Sahara Khatun were imprisoned and kept under my command for a few days in that house.

Abdullahil Aman Azmi also stated in the cross-examination that the interim government promoted him to the rank of Major General and Lieutenant General and issued a notification on February 5, 2026. He said, however, as there was no order regarding this promotion from the army, he used the title of Brigadier General (retd.) in the deposition.

In the cross-examination of the counsel for the accused, witness Azmi also said that in view of his application, the army paid Tk 4 crore for house rent. He claimed that this four crore rupees was given to him as prison compensation on the recommendation of the Court of Inquiry, which is not true.

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Among the 13 accused in this case of hiding in JIC, three are in subjail. They are three former directors of DGFI – Major General Sheikh Md. Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Md. Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui. They were produced in the tribunal today.

The remaining 10 accused in the case are absconding. Among them there are five former director general of DGFI Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Akbar Hossain, Major General (Retd.) Md. Saiful Abedin, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Saiful Alam, Lieutenant General (retd) Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury and Major General (retd) Hamidul Haque.

Among the absconding accused are former director of DGFI Major General (retd) Mohammad Tauhidul ul Islam, Major General Kabir Ahmed and Lt Col (retd) Makhchurul Haque.

Among the fugitives are Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in a popular coup in July, and her defense adviser, Major General (retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddique.