Seven complaints were filed today at the International Criminal Court (ICT) on allegations of torture and enforced disappearance of seven activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS).

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

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

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

At a press briefing at ICT headquarters, Saiful, one of the complainants, recounted his ordeal during captivity, describing the painful conditions.

“I was blindfolded and my hands were tied 24 hours a day. They did not allow me to go to 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, I had to empty the bottle, then reuse it for drinking. he said.

He detailed other abuses, saying he was only allowed a minute or two to eat after serving the food.

“If I failed to eat within the limited time, they used to beat me and then take my food,” he added.

Abdullah Al Noman, the legal affairs secretary of the ICS, said: “Four complainants were maimed or lost their limbs after being tortured by the law enforcement officers. One individual returned after three and a half years of disappearance, while another returned after being missing for three and a half years. Kamaruzzaman, who went missing in 2017, has been missing for half a month,” he said.

He added that ICS members have so far filed 17 complaints in the tribunal involving 16 ICS activists and one unaffiliated student.