Former army chief testifies against Ziaul Ahsan over killings and disappearances

Former Chief of Army Staff General (Retd) Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan concluded his testimony on Monday in the case against former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan, over his alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and more than a hundred killings.

General (Retd) Iqbal, who began his testimony as the first prosecution witness (PW) at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Sunday, was cross-examined by the defence after completing his statement. However, the defence did not complete its cross-examination on Monday.

At the end of Monday’s proceedings, the two-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, adjourned the hearing until Tuesday, 18 February.

Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim, was present during the hearing. Senior advocates Mansurul Haque Chowdhury and Naznin Nahar represented Ziaul Ahsan.

The ICT-1 had framed three specific charges in the case on 14 January 2026. Earlier, on 17 December 2025, the prosecution submitted the formal charge, bringing three counts against Ziaul Ahsan.

Ziaul Ahsan remains in custody and is facing trial in several cases involving allegations of abduction, torture, enforced disappearance, killings, and other crimes against humanity.