Cartoonist Kishore alleges former DGFI officer Afiz behind his torture in custody, demands arrest
Cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore has claimed that one of the two sketches he drew of individuals who allegedly tortured him while he was in custody during ousted Hasina's regime bears a "striking resemblance" to former DGFI officer Major (retd) Afizur Rahman.
Kishore made this allegation in a Facebook post yesterday (11 August), calling for immediate arrest of Major Afiz, who Kishore claimed is aligned with pro-Jamaat journalists.
The cartoonist was arrested by RAB in May 2020 and he remained in jail for almost a year in a Digital Security Act (DSA) case.
In his recent Facebook status, Kishore said, "I have recently identified a man I believe to be directly linked to my own abduction and torture, as well as to the prosecution of my late friend, writer and activist Mushtaq Ahmed. That man is Major Afiz."
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"Given his reputation within service circles as a corrupt and opportunistic officer, I demand the immediate arrest of Major Afiz", he further added.
Kishore also referenced a post by blogger, writer, and journalist Arif Jebtik, alleging that Major Afiz was also involved in removing pro-Liberation voices from the Daily Jankantha and assumed control of the newspaper.
"Today, during the tenure of the interim government, this same Afiz has emerged as the leader in seizing control of a major established media house—achieved at the cost of the sacrifices made by Mushtaq Ahmed, myself, and countless others", he wrote.
Kishore concluded his statement by expressing hope that an immediate investigation and arrest of Major Afiz would help expose evidence related to enforced disappearances, torture, and abuse during the previous government's tenure.
In response to the allegations, Afiz denied any involvement of abduction and torture, stating that he served solely in the Public Relations and Media Wing of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).
"During my entire tenure at DGFI, I worked only in that department," he said.
Referring to the sketch that depicts a person wearing glasses, Afiz noted that he wasn't wearing glasses at the time. "Someone sent it to me, and I've seen it. I only started wearing glasses just about a month ago", Afiz said.
"Before that, I had never worn glasses—except briefly when I was in Class Four. Since then, I haven't worn glasses at all."
Afiz questioned whether Kishore might be mistaken, stating that he had never operated outside the scope of his official duties.
"I have never met him. Perhaps he is mistaken. I have never had any interaction with him," said Afiz.
In May 2020, RAB arrested writer Mushtaq Ahmed, cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, Didarul Bhuiyan, a member of RashtraChinta, and Minhaj Mannan, director of the Dhaka Stock Exchange.
A case was filed against 11 people under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for using social media to spread rumours against the state. Although two people were released on bail in that case, the bail applications of Mushtaq and Kishore were rejected six times.
After languishing in different prisons for 303 days, he left Kashimpur Central Jail 2 on six-month bail on 4 March 2021.
Kishore filed a case against unidentified members of the law enforcement agencies on Wednesday (10 March) in connection with the torture after he was arrested in a case under the DSA.
"I was tortured after I was detained. I have appealed to the court to file a case against the perpetrators in this regard," Kishore had said.
