Seven complaints filed with ICT over torture, disappearance of Shibir activists

Seven complaints were filed with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today over allegations of torture and enforced disappearance of seven activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS).

The complaints accused 53 individuals—including members of law enforcement, Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League.

The complainants are Johnny Islam, an ICS activist from Rajshahi University; Abdul Karim and Saiful Islam, from the Banshkhali and Rangunia units in Chattogram; Nurul Amin, former ICS president of Dhaka's Vatara Police Station unit; Alamgir Hossain of Bogura's Sherpur; Delwar Hossain of Noakhali district, and the elder brother of Kamaruzzaman, the former Shibir president of a union in Jhenaidah's Ratanhat.

Abdullah Al Noman, prosecutor of ICT, confirmed to The Daily Star that the complaints were filed today.

At a press briefing on the ICT premises, Saiful, one of the complainants, recounted his ordeal during captivity, describing harrowing conditions.

"I was blindfolded and had my hands tied 24 hours a day. They did not allow me to use the bathroom, forcing me to urinate in the same bottle used for drinking water. I had to empty the bottle, then reuse it for drinking," he said.

He also detailed further abuse, saying that they only allowed him a minute or two to eat after serving food.

"If I failed to eat during the limited time, they used to beat me, and they then took away food from me," he added.

Abdullah Al Noman, law affairs secretary of ICS, said, "Four complainants were maimed or lost limbs after being tortured by law enforcers. One individual returned after three and a half years of disappearance, while another came back after being missing for three and a half months. Kamaruzzaman, who disappeared in 2017, remains unaccounted for," he said.

He added that ICS members have so far filed 17 complaints with the tribunal, involving 16 ICS activists and one non-affiliated student.