Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) has framed charges against former National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre director general Ziaul Ahsan over allegations of enforced disappearances and the killing of more than 100 people.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order on Wednesday, rejecting a discharge petition filed by the defence. The court also fixed 8 February for the prosecution to present its opening statement.
Prosecutors allege that Ziaul Ahsan played a key role in a series of enforced disappearances, abductions and killings that amount to crimes against humanity. The case is one of several being pursued against senior security officials accused of grave human rights violations.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam argued in favour of framing the charges, while senior advocate Mansurul Haque Chowdhury represented the accused and sought his discharge, which the tribunal dismissed.
The formal charge was submitted by the prosecution on 17 December 2025, bringing three specific counts against Ziaul Ahsan.
A dismissed major general, Ziaul Ahsan, remains in custody and is facing trial in multiple cases involving allegations of abduction, torture, enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings. The proceedings are part of wider efforts by the tribunal to investigate alleged abuses committed during past security operations in Bangladesh.
