Online Desk 

The remaining testimony of the investigation officer in the case against former RAB official Major General (retd) Ziaul Ahsan over alleged enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League government will be recorded on Tuesday (October 6).

The testimony of the case’s principal investigation officer, Md Rafiqul Islam, will be recorded before a bench of International Crimes Tribunal-1 headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.

The prosecution said Rafiqul Islam began testifying as the 15th prosecution witness on September 30 and gave part of his deposition that day. October 4 was initially set for the remaining testimony, but the hearing did not take place. The tribunal later fixed Tuesday as the new date.

The prosecution claims that the charges against Ziaul Ahsan have been established through the testimony of 15 witnesses. Once the investigation officer completes his deposition, the case will move to the stage of closing arguments. However, the defence will have an opportunity to present defence witnesses if it wishes.

Allegations of More Than 100 Killings in Three Charges

Three separate charges have been brought against Ziaul Ahsan in the case.

The first charge alleges that Ziaul was directly present during the killing of three people, including Sajal, in the Pubail area of Gazipur Sadar police station on the night of July 11, 2011.

The second charge alleges that 50 people, including Nazrul and Mallik, were killed between 2010 and 2013 at the confluence of the Baleshwar River in Char Duani Union of Patharghata upazila in Barguna.

In the third charge, the prosecution has alleged that another 50 people, including Masud, were killed during the same period in the Baleshwar River area of Barguna and the Sundarbans in Sharankhola, Bagerhat, in the name of conducting operations against so-called forest bandits.

Earlier, Kamrul Islam testified in the case on September 27. He provided the tribunal with information about evidence seized from various locations during the investigation.

On the same day, the cross-examination of the 13th prosecution witness, former RAB official Major (retd) Sabbir Rahman, was completed. He was the last eyewitness in the case.

On December 17 last year, the tribunal took cognisance of the three charges against Ziaul Ahsan, and the prosecution submitted the formal charge sheet the same day.

On December 23, Tribunal-1 ordered that he be shown arrested in the case and sent to jail.