Buzz about abrogating military officers' passports stirs mixed reactions

 
Reports have surfaced that the interim government has issued directives to the authorities concerned to abrogate passports belonging to a broad number of military officers who were associated with enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime from 2009 to 2024.

Reliable sources have said that a list has been finalized containing names and particulars of certain officers who held high posts in the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) while Sheikh Hasina was in power. Most of these officers were, according to sources, connected with the vicious process of making Ayna Ghor (secret detention chambers). Directives have been meanwhile given to immigration department to restrain these branded officers from escaping from Bangladesh. The Home Ministry has reportedly sent instructions on this matter to the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP).

Sources close to the Secretariat have informed that a letter signed by Deputy Secretary Quamruzzaman, Home Ministry, includes the names and ranks of 22 (twenty two) armed forces officers. This letter dated 18 November 2024 states that relevant inquiries about enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and human rights violations have led to the discovery of these 22 officers' alleged involvement in unlawful activities and abusing power during the fascist ruling party Awami League's tenure which was ousted by demonstrators on 5 August 2024 and Sheikh Hasina fled away to India on the same day.

DIP has been reportedly ordered by the Home Ministry to nullify the passports of these 22 military officers. Most of these officers enjoyed egregious influence during Sheikh Hasina's ruling period. Some of these armed forces officers were chiefs and high-ranking officers in DGFI, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and National Security Intelligence (NSI), administrative sources have reported.

The aforementioned list contains names of Lieutenant General (Retd) Mollah Fazle Akbar who was in charge of Joint Interrogation Cell from 5 February 2009 to 22 June 2011. The list also includes Lieutenant General Akbar Hossain, Saiful Abedin, Saiful Alam, Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, Major General Hamidul Haque who at different times served in DGFI and NSI holding key positions. Allegations show that these officers were responsible for creating Ayna Ghor, enforced disappearances, crossfire and illegally eliminating politicians who opposed Sheikh Hasina. Major General (Retd) Sheikh Mamun Khaled, Major General (Retd) Sultan Uz Zaman Md. Saleh Uddin, Major General Kabir Ahmed, Major General Sheikh Mohammad Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Tanvir Ghani Chowdhury, Colonel Quamaruzzaman Saberi Khan, former RAB officer Colonel Abdullah Al Momen, Lieutenant Colonel Kismet Hayat, Lt. Colonel Tuhin Mohammad Masud, Lt. Colonel Mehedi Hasan, Major Rahat Us Sattar, Warrant Officer Ziaur Rahman and Warrant Officer Imrul Kayes.

Moreover, orders have been issued to void passports belonging to detained Police Super Mohiuddin Faruki and Additional Police Super Alep Uddin. Both these police officers were posted in RAB for several years while they were in service. Alep Uddin is facing allegations of conducting enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings while he was in RAB.

Lt. General Saiful Alam, Lt. General Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury and Major General Hamidul Haque were sent to forced retirement from Bangladesh Army. Lt. General SM Matiur Rahman held posts of Deputy Director, RAB Intelligence Wing, Commanding Officer in RAB 1 and Additional Director General in RAB. The Commission for Investigating Enforced Disappearances has come to know that SM Matiur Rahman is reportedly trying to fly to the United Kingdom. The Commission for Investigating Enforced Disappearances has asked the concerned organizations to revoke the passports of the above military officers with immediate effect. However, some inconsistencies regarding the ranks of some officers have been noticed. On the other hand, a retired Army Chief has told The Asian Age on condition of anonymity that abrogating passports, birth certificates, death certificates, succession certificates, national ID cards and similar documents violates a person's fundamental rights in a democratic country. This senior army officer, who retired from service long ago, quoted a few words from former US President Jimmy Carter who once said "Fascism has different shapes and colours".

Reporters from a few media outlets communicated with decision-makers on this issue but the administrators did not agree to make any comments.

The patriotic and gallant students and masses unseated the fascist Awami League government on 5 August 2024 while Nobel laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus took oath as the interim government's Chief Adviser on 8 August 2024. People across Bangladesh are still highly confident and hopeful that Dr. Muhammad Yunus and his cabinet colleagues will be able to wipe out all signs and shadows of fascism from the soil of Bangladesh. For this reason devoted well-wishers of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who is a globally applauded economist, poverty eradicator and peace emissary, have suggested the interim government to keep away from taking measures which may resemble fascist malpractices. Nevertheless, the officials, both in civil administration and military services, who supported and assisted overthrown Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in human rights violations and committing severe vices should be subjected to quick, exemplary and stern legal actions without compromise.