'Could not say how many were disappeared during my tenure,' ex-army chief Iqbal tells ICT
Responding to questions about the army’s involvement in major national projects, including the Padma Bridge and the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, he said the military had been engaged in several projects but he could not recall the exact number.
Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, former chief of army staff general (retd), today (1 March) told the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) that he could not say how many people were subjected to enforced disappearance during his tenure and that he did not attempt to rescue any of them.
He made the remarks during cross-examination in a case filed against former director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre Ziaul Ahsan over his alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League government.
"I cannot say how many people were disappeared when I was the army chief," Iqbal told the tribunal. "I did not attempt to rescue any of those who were disappeared because it was not under my jurisdiction, and I did not know who was picked up, when, or from where."
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
He further said that the Directorate of Military Intelligence (MI) did not provide him with specific information about who was being disappeared, though he was informed that such incidents were taking place.
Bhuiyan is the first prosecution witness in the case. He recorded his testimony on 8 and 9 February and faced initial cross-examination on 9 February. Today, he was cross-examined for the fourth day by defence lawyer Aminul Gani.
The trial is being held at International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, with Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Md Mohitul Haq Enam Chowdhury as members of the three-judge panel.
Ziaul, the sole accused in the case, is currently in custody and was produced before the tribunal today.
During the cross-examination, Bhuiyan claimed he had taken numerous steps to prevent what he described as a "culture of enforced disappearance" but acknowledged that he had not submitted any documentary evidence to support that claim.
He also said he had not written to the then "super chief" or the prime minister regarding measures to prevent disappearances.
Responding to questions about the army's involvement in major national projects, including the Padma Bridge and the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, he said the military had been engaged in several projects but he could not recall the exact number.
He added that he was not aware of any corruption in those projects.
