The International Crimes Tribunal-1 today is to review the progress in a July uprising killing case and two enforced disappearance cases, in which 32 people, including 25 serving and retired army officers, stand accused.

On October 8, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against the accused after taking cognisance of formal charges submitted by the prosecution and directed the inspector general of police to execute them. It also sent the copies of the warrants to relevant authorities of the accused officers and fixed today for submission of a compliance report on the execution.

Asked whether any of the accused had been arrested or would be produced before the tribunal today, Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim said such information would come directly to the tribunal's registrar office, which dispatches the tribunal's orders, not to the prosecution.

The tribunal will announce today whether the registrar office has received any such information, he said.

Tamim explained that under the law, accused persons may either appear voluntarily before the tribunal or be arrested and produced by law enforcement agencies. The tribunal may then decide whether to grant bail or order detention in jail custody, with the prison authorities determining the place of confinement.

"If they don't appear or are not produced tomorrow [Wednesday], a notice will be published in two national dailies -- one in Bangla and one in English -- directing them to appear before the tribunal by a specific date," he said, adding that, "Failure to comply even after the public notice will lead to their being declared absconders, and the tribunal will appoint a state defence counsel to represent them."

Asked about reports that 15 of the accused army officers were in military custody, Tamim said such claims were unofficial. "The tribunal acts strictly in accordance with the law. It does not rely on social media posts or unofficial briefings. Only formal communications through the authorities concerned will be considered."

Tamim said the chief prosecutor would decide whether to raise the issue of producing the officers before the court if they are not presented, stressing that the same legal provisions apply to all accused, regardless of their position. "This law treats everyone equally -- serving or retired, military or civilian."

Responding to a question about whether the prosecution faced pressure in filing the cases, Tamim referred to high-profile accused, including former prime minister being tried in crimes against humanity cases.

The 32 accused in the three cases include deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, three former director generals of Rab.

In two cases of enforced disappearances, Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former defence and security adviser to Hasina, is a co-accused of Hasina.