Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered the arrest of two former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officers, marking the first arrests in a disappearance case under the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
Former RAB-2 Superintendent of Police Mohiuddin Faruqi and Barisal Range Additional Superintendent of Police Alep Uddin were presented before the tribunal on Monday.
The three-member tribunal, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, issued the order after their appearance. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and other prosecutors represented the prosecution during the proceedings.
The two former officers were brought from the high-security cell of Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur and presented before the tribunal at 11am.
The arrests follow a directive from the tribunal on November 28, which ordered producing them before the court.
Both officers served in the Rapid Action Battalion and have been accused of involvement in multiple enforced disappearances and acts of torture.
Following an investigation, the prosecution claimed there was sufficient prima facie evidence to warrant their arrest.
The tribunal received numerous complaints against the two officers but proceeded with a disappearance case filed by the family of Zobair Omar Khan, who was killed during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Zobair Omar Khan was shot dead in Dhaka’s Shanir Akhra area on August 5 during the movement. He was taken to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, where he was declared dead. Zobair’s brother later filed a case over the incident.
Alep Uddin was apprehended on the night of November 13 in Barisal, while Mohiuddin Faruqi was detained the same morning from Kaukhali (Betbunia) in Rangamati district.
