Former army chief General (retd) Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan has urged for the immediate disbandment of DGFI and Rab, alleging their involvement in extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. He emphasized the need to dissolve Rab promptly, suggesting that if disbanding is not feasible, military personnel assigned there should be returned to the armed forces. Additionally, he advocated for the discontinuation of DGFI due to what he described as a tainted culture exemplified by the existence of ‘Aynaghar’ (secret detention centers).
These statements were made during Iqbal’s testimony at the International Crimes Tribunal‑1 for the second consecutive day. He serves as the primary prosecution witness in a case against Maj Gen (retd) Ziaul Ahsan, accused of orchestrating the enforced disappearance and murder of 104 individuals between 2010 and 2013 during his tenure in Rab.
During his leadership of the Bangladesh Army from June 2012 to June 2015, Iqbal alleged the presence of individuals from India’s RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) within the DGFI headquarters, supplying lists of individuals labeled as militants. He highlighted the regular visits of these individuals under the patronage of Maj Gen Tarique Ahmed Siddique, the then prime minister’s defense adviser.
Iqbal recounted instances of army officers allegedly misled into participating in extrajudicial killings. He shared encounters with officers who confessed to being involved in such acts, revealing details of the number of killings they had carried out and the circumstances surrounding them. Through a series of dialogues with these officers, he shed light on the coercion and guilt associated with these actions.
Moreover, Iqbal disclosed disturbing practices of disposing of victims’ bodies by Rab, where the deceased were reportedly mutilated, weighed down with heavy objects, and thrown into rivers. He expressed shock at these revelations and detailed his efforts to address the issue within the army, including halting officer postings to DGFI, BGB, and Rab.
Despite facing backlash and pressure to provide officers to Rab, Iqbal stood firm in his decisions, prioritizing accountability and moral rectitude within the military. He emphasized that his actions aimed to purify the institution and uphold its integrity. As the proceedings adjourned until February 18 following the completion of his testimony and cross-examination, Iqbal’s commitment to cleansing the army of wrongdoing remained resolute.
