Barrister Arman Breaks Eight-Year Silence

After eight years in self-imposed seclusion, Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem Arman has finally emerged to testify before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1). Despite widespread speculation, no law enforcement agency had detained or “disappeared” him, his lawyer Aminul Gani Tito confirmed during cross-examination in the TFI cell enforced disappearance case, which is being tried as a crime against humanity.

The hearing, held on Sunday, 8 March, was presided over by a three-member bench chaired by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder. The prosecution team included Prosecutor Mizanul Islam, alongside colleagues Gazi M.H. Tamim, Sheikh Mahdi, and A.B.M. Sultan Mahmud.

During the proceedings, Tito addressed Barrister Arman directly: “You were in self-imposed hiding. No law enforcement authority ‘disappeared’ you. Furthermore, the accounts in your book, Witness of the Tribunal: Eight Years of Enforced Disappearance, are false.” Arman firmly rebutted the claim, stating, “This is not true.”

Questions were also raised regarding alleged destruction of evidence. Arman explained, “The investigators requested my scarf, lungi, and T-shirt, but I could not provide them as they were not preserved.” When pressed if these items had been intentionally destroyed, he admitted, “It is true that I destroyed the scarf, lungi, and T-shirt.”

A documentary chronicling Arman’s eight-year period in hiding was shown during the hearing. At 19 minutes and 40 seconds, the footage—sourced from CCTV—depicted Arman wearing the same scarf, lungi, and T-shirt in question. Tito suggested the attire had been worn specifically for the documentary, but Arman clarified, “The clothing shown in the documentary comes directly from the original CCTV footage. It was not staged for the film.”

The tribunal then scheduled the cross-examination of seven other accused, including Lieutenant Colonel Sarwar Bin Kashem, to continue on 10 March, following objections from Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam.

Earlier on the same day, ten accused were produced in court from the Dhaka Cantonment Special Prison.

Other notable fugitives include former Defence Advisor Major General (Retd.) Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former IGP Benjir Ahmed, former RAB DG M. Khurshid Hossain, former RAB ADG Barrister Harun Or Rashid, and former RAB Director Lt. Colonel (Retd.) Md. Khairul Islam.

The hearing marks a critical moment in one of Bangladesh’s most high-profile cases concerning enforced disappearances and allegations of human rights violations spanning decades.