On the day of the hearing, the thirteen military officers were brought before the tribunal. In these two cases, a total of thirty individuals are accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.
At 10:00 am, under tight security, the officers were transported to the tribunal in prison vans. Upon arrival, they were escorted individually from the vans to the detention area for processing.
The officers present before the tribunal include: former Additional Director General of RAB, Brigadier General Md. Jahangir Alam; Brigadier General Tofail Mostafa Sarwar; Brigadier General Md. Kamrul Hasan; Brigadier General Md. Mahbub Alam; Brigadier KM Azad; Colonel Abdullah Al Momen; Colonel Anwar Latif Khan (on retirement leave); former Director of RAB Intelligence, Lieutenant Colonel Md. Moshiur Rahman; Lieutenant Colonel Saiful Islam Sumon; Lieutenant Colonel Md. Sarwar Bin Kashem; former Director of DGFI, Major General Sheikh Md. Sarwar Hossain; Brigadier General Md. Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui; and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui.
In preparation for the officers’ appearance, security was significantly increased in and around the tribunal premises from early morning. Police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel, along with RAB members, were deployed around the tribunal and Supreme Court compound.
For the defence of Sheikh Hasina, who is currently absconding, senior Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna has been appointed as the State Defence by Tribunal-1, following his own request. Additionally, legal representatives have been assigned to defend the other accused individuals in the cases.
