On Sunday, 8 March, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) brought to light the prolonged eight-year period during which Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Kashem Arman remained in self-imposed hiding. The tribunal session, presided over by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, saw barrister Aminul Gani Tito confirm that no law enforcement agency had abducted Arman during this period.
Representing the prosecution were Prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Gazi M.H. Tamim, Sheikh Mahdi, and A.B.M. Sultan Mahmud. During the cross-examination, Tito challenged Arman over his book “The Witness of the Courtroom: Eight Years of Disappearance”, asserting that the narrative contained falsehoods. Arman, however, denied these claims, stating, “These are not true.”
Significantly, Arman disclosed that certain pieces of evidence seized in connection with the case—specifically a neck towel, a lungi, and a T-shirt—were not preserved by authorities, as he had destroyed them himself. When asked if this destruction was deliberate, Arman admitted, “Yes, I destroyed them.”
A documentary highlighting Arman’s period in hiding was also screened at the tribunal. At the 19-minute 40-second mark, he appears wearing the lungi, T-shirt, and neck towel. Arman clarified that this footage originated from original CCTV recordings, not staged for the documentary. Tito, however, contended, “You wore these items for the purpose of the documentary,” which Arman denied.
Following this, the defence for seven co-accused, including Lieutenant Colonel Sarwar Bin Kashem, requested cross-examination. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam opposed the request. The tribunal has scheduled the next session for 10 March.
Earlier in the morning, ten defendants were brought from the Dhaka Cantonment Special Prison to the tribunal. The table below summarises their names and ranks:
| Name | Rank / Position |
|---|---|
| Md. Jahangir Alam | Former Additional Director General, RAB, Brigadier General |
| Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar | Brigadier General |
| Md. Kamrul Hasan | Brigadier General |
| Md. Mahabub Alam | Brigadier General |
| Colonel K.M. Azad | Colonel |
| Colonel Abdullah Al Momen | Colonel |
| Anwar Latif Khan | Retired Colonel |
| Md. Moshiur Rahman | Former Director, Intelligence, RAB |
| Saiful Islam Sumon | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Md. Sarwar Bin Kashem | Lieutenant Colonel |
Several high-profile fugitives remain at large, including Major General (Retd.) Tariq Ahmed Siddique, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, former RAB DG M. Khurshid Hossain, Barrister Harun Or Rashid, and Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Md. Khairul Islam.
The ongoing cross-examination is considered pivotal in establishing the authenticity of testimonies and evidence related to enforced disappearance and crimes against humanity. Arman’s eight-year period in hiding and subsequent testimony have drawn particular international attention, highlighting the case’s significance in human rights jurisprudence.