Humam Quader begins testimony as first prosecution witness at ICT-1

Humam Quader Chowdhury, a victim of enforced disappearance, today began his deposition before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 as the first prosecution witness in a case over detention and torture at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) run by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).

The case, filed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 12 others, alleges that at least 24 individuals were illegally detained and tortured at the JIC between 2016 and August 2024.

During his testimony, Humam said he was assigned the code name “VIP One” while held at the JIC. “One day, by mistake, the medicine was given to me with its wrapper. The wrapper had ‘VIP One’ written on it. That was when I realised it was my code name,” he told the tribunal, adding that he was subjected to torture during interrogation sessions.

Humam, son of BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury who was executed for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War -- also testified that he was repeatedly asked whether he had links with foreign intelligence agencies, including Pakistan’s ISI, India’s RAW, and the CIA.

He said he was picked up on August 4, 2016, from outside Bangshal Police Station while travelling to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court with his mother. He was first taken to the police station and later to the Detective Branch (DB) office on Minto Road.

Humam told the tribunal that while in DB custody, the agency briefed the media claiming he had not been arrested. “I watched those media briefings on television while still being detained,” he said.

Later that night, around 11:00pm, he was taken from the DB office blindfolded and transferred to a secret location. The cell where he was held contained a table bearing the inscription “Counter Terrorism Intelligence Bureau (CTIB).”

Humam’s deposition will resume after the tribunal’s recess today.

Apart from Sheikh Hasina, the accused include her former defence and security adviser, Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and 11 former senior DGFI officials.

On October 8, prosecutors brought five charges against the accused for crimes against humanity, alleging illegal detention and torture of 26 victims between October 22, 2015, and August 5, 2024.