Enforced disappearance: 15 officers facing warrants taken into custody, 1 missing, says Army HQ
Major General Md Hakimuzzaman, adjutant general of the Bangladesh Army, disclosed the information at a press briefing held at the Officers’ Mess in Dhaka Cantonment this afternoon (11 October).
The Bangladesh Army Headquarters has said 15 army officers, facing arrest warrants issued in separate cases over enforced disappearances and torture committed during the Awami League's rule, have been taken into military custody.
Major General Md Hakimuzzaman, adjutant general of the Bangladesh Army, disclosed the information at a press briefing held at the Officers' Mess in Dhaka Cantonment this afternoon (11 October).
"A total of 15 accused officers are now under army custody, while one officer remains unaccounted for. He left his residence one morning and has not returned since. Efforts are underway to trace his whereabouts," he said, adding that the name of the personnel is Major General Kabir Ahmed.
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He further said, "On 8 October, we learned that arrest warrants had been issued against 25 former and current army officers. However, we have not yet received any official copy of the warrants — none have been handed over to us so far.
"Among the 25 officers, some are retired while others are still in service. Nine have retired, one is on leave preparatory to retirement [LPR], and 15 are currently serving."
Legal steps in due course
Major General Hakimuzzaman continued, "We instructed the officers to report to Dhaka Cantonment by 9 October and remain in military custody. This is standard practice in the Bangladesh Army — when allegations arise, we take the accused into custody pending legal proceedings. Fifteen officers have since come under custody. One officer left his residence on the morning of 9 October and has not returned."
The Bangladesh Army stands for justice. There will be no compromise with fairness.
The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), the National Security Intelligence (NSI), and the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) have all been instructed to ensure that the missing officer cannot leave the country, he added.
In response to a question, he said, "A commission on enforced disappearances has been formed — we have fully cooperated and continue to do so. The Bangladesh Army stands for justice. There will be no compromise with fairness."
When asked whether those in custody would be presented before court on 22 October, Major General Hakimuzzaman said the army will take appropriate legal steps in due course.
"The Bangladesh Army respects all laws recognised by the constitution of the country. Legal action will be taken against the officers in custody in accordance with the law," he also said.
Asked if the army would take responsibility for the alleged disappearances, he said, "How could the army know what happened at the DGFI offices in 2007, 2009, 2014, or 2015? How could we possibly know?"
Asked how the retired officers would be arrested, he said, "They may, if they wish, come into our custody — or they can go to the police or appear before the court."
Earlier, on 8 October, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 issued arrest warrants for 30 individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in two separate cases over abduction and enforced disappearance.
The warrants were sent to the IGP and the 12 other relevant offices - Chief of Army Staff, Chief of General Staff, Adjutant General (Army Headquarters), Director General of DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence), Director General of NSI (National Security Intelligence), Principal Staff Officer (Armed Forces Division), Secretary to the Chief Adviser's Office, Director of Military Intelligence, Director of Personnel Service Directorate (Bangladesh Army), Commandant, Army Security Unit, Provost Marshal and CEO, Army MP Unit for Information.
One of the cases accuses Hasina, her security adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and 17 others of abduction and torture in the TFI cell, while the other involves two and 13 others over similar offences committed in the Joint Interrogation Cell.
Ex-DGFI, RAB chiefs among accused
Among the accused are five former directors general of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), as well as former chiefs of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
In the case concerning abduction, enforced disappearances, and torture in the Rapid Action Battalion's TFI cell, 17 individuals were charged with five counts of crimes.
The accused in this case are: Sheikh Hasina, Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, former RAB director general M Khurshid Hossain, former RAB director general Barrister Harun ur Rashid, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, Brigadier General Jahangir Alam, Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, RAB officer KM Azad, Brigadier General Kamrul Hasan, Mahbub Alam, Abdullah Al Momen, Sarwar Bin Kashem, Khairul Islam, Moshiur Rahman Jewel, and Saiful Islam Suman.
In another case filed over enforced disappearances at the Joint Interrogation Cell, 13 individuals, including Hasina, have been accused of crimes against humanity.
The accused in that case are: Sheikh Hasina, Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former DGFI director general Lt Gen (retd) Mohammad Akbar Hossain, former DG Maj Gen (retd) Saiful Abedin, Lt Gen (retd) Md Saiful Alam, former DG Lt Gen Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, former DG Maj Gen (retd) Hamidul Haque, Maj Gen Towhidul Islam, Maj Gen Sarwar Hossain, Maj Gen Kabir Ahmed, Brig Gen Mahbubur Rahman Siddique, Brig Gen Ahmed Tanvir Majhar Siddique, and Lt Col (retd) Makhsurul Haque.
Among them, four army officers are currently in active service. However, under the amended International Crimes Tribunal Act, serving officers accused in such cases are not permitted to hold any official post, International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam Islam said.
Hasina fled to India with her sister Sheikh Rehana on 5 August last year in the face of a mass uprising led by students. She has been in India since then. However, the whereabouts of Tarique Siddique remain unknown.
According to media reports, Siddique was denied citizenship in Malta, but he and his family have obtained long-term residency in Malaysia under the country's "Malaysia My Second Home" programme. Additionally, Siddique holds permanent residency in Dubai, where he owns substantial property and has made large investments.
