Ex-Major Testifies to Extrajudicial Killings Led by Former RAB Official
Former army major Khondakar Mohammad Sajjadul Islam testified before the International Crimes Tribunal-1, stating that ex-army official Ziaul Ahsan led the killing of three individuals in a single night. Sajjadul Islam's testimony is part of a case concerning alleged crimes against humanity, including the enforced disappearance and murder of over a hundred people during the Awami League government's tenure. Ziaul Ahsan, the sole defendant in this case, is currently in jail and was presented before the tribunal. According to Sajjadul Islam's deposition, on the night of July 11, 2011, he and others were on an operation with four Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) vehicles. After traveling for 40-45 minutes past the Tongi Ahsan Ullah Master Flyover, the vehicles stopped on a bridge. A blindfolded and bound captive was then brought out of a vehicle. Ziaul Ahsan allegedly took the captive, held them against the bridge railing, and shot them in the back of the head, subsequently pushing the body over the railing. Witnessing this event shortly after joining RAB left him stunned. The former major stated that two more individuals were killed in a similar manner that same night. In a separate proceeding, writer and media personality Ashraf Kaysar testified as the 27th witness in a case against seven Awami League leaders, including General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Joint General Secretary A.F.M. Bahauddin Nasim, for alleged crimes during the July mass uprising. Kaysar stated that the Awami League and its affiliated organizations displayed fascist and violent characteristics in 2024, posing a grave threat to democratic politics. He asserted that such fascist forces cannot coexist with democracy and human rights. Kaysar also assigned responsibility for the casualties during the July mass uprising not only to law enforcement agencies but also to the then-Prime Minister, Home Minister, IGP, and RAB Director General, as well as the defendants and leaders at all levels of the Awami League. He emphasized the necessity of ensuring a fair trial. The other defendants in this case include former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, and Bangladesh Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan. All defendants in this case are currently at large.
The testimonies highlight severe allegations of extrajudicial killings and state-sanctioned violence, suggesting a pattern of behavior that contravenes fundamental human rights and legal principles. The alleged actions, if proven, indicate a systemic disregard for due process and accountability within certain state security apparatuses. The involvement of high-ranking officials and the scale of alleged offenses raise critical questions about governance structures and oversight mechanisms. Moving forward, robust legal frameworks and independent judicial oversight are essential to prevent recurrence and ensure justice. Examining the incentive structures that may have enabled such actions, alongside strengthening civilian control over security forces, will be crucial in fostering a society that upholds the rule of law and protects its citizens' fundamental rights in the long term.
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