Published:  08:48 AM, 10 October 2025

Arrest Warrants Issued Against Five Ex DGFI Chiefs

Arrest Warrants Issued Against Five  Ex DGFI Chiefs
 
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants against five former chiefs of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence or DGFI on charges of human rights violations, enforced disappearances and suppressing political opponents illegally during ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime from 2009 to 2024.

Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mazumder, Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury issued the above order yesterday.

These five ex DGFI bosses are Lt. General Akbar Hossain, Major General Saiful Abedin, Lt. General Saiful Alam, Lt. General Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury and Major General Hamidul Haque. ICT Chief Prosecutor Md. Tajul Islam formally submitted allegations on Wednesday and applied to the Justices to take the allegations into cognizance and to issue arrest warrants on these former defence espionage chiefs. Another 17 Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officers and 13 Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) officers have been accused in these two cases.

In both above cases, overthrown Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been named the main accused perpetrator. Sheikh Hasina's Defence Adviser Major General (Retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiqui has been named in the accusation too.

ICT has issued arrest warrants against 30 (thirty) individuals. The next hearing on these two cases will be held on 22 October, according to ICT officials. Five charges have been pressed on crimes against humanity for torturing people inside TFI cell during the immediate past regime. Another five charges have been slapped for beating up detainees inside JIC interrogation chambers.

Secret detention chambers were discovered following the downfall of banned outfit Awami League in August 2024. These clandestine detention cells were known as "Ayna Ghor" where political opponents and dissidents were held and tormented unlawfully during Sheikh Hasina's ruling tenure. The interim government launched a commission in August 2024 led by retired Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury to investigate the allegations of enforced disappearances at the hands of law and order forces and intelligence divisions from 2009 to 2024. The commission has found escaped Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's proven connections with giving orders to torture people and to abduct people in extrajudicial ways who opposed her government. It was reported to the interim government in December 2024.

These ruthless instances of human rights violations and extrajudicial detentions also show direct involvement of former Director General of National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC) sacked Major General Ziaul Ahsan and two top cops during Awami League's term Md. Monirul Islam and Harun Ur Rashid. Another report on these unauthorized detentions and extrajudicial interrogation was submitted to the government on 4 June 2025.

The reports by the inquiry commission show that families of the victims of enforced disappearances have blamed RAB, Detective Branch (DB) and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit which operated under Bangladesh Police.

The inquiry commission has also found certain officers belonging to DGFI, National Security Intelligence (NSI) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) associated with these illegal and inhuman activities which were done during Sheikh Hasina's ruling period.

Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus inspected the Ayna Ghors on 12 February 2025. Colonel Md. Shafiqul Islam, Military Operations Directorate said during a press conference on 03 July 2025 that deputed army officers can't be controlled by Bangladesh Army. Colonel Md. Shafiqul Islam further said that allegations have surfaced about some army officers who were in deputations which are being investigated. The interim government has meanwhile approved a law to be enacted which makes enforced disappearances crimes subject to death penalty as the capital punishment.

The Advisory Council on principle has endorsed a drafted law which aims at preventing vices like enforced disappearances. The National Human Rights Commission has been empowered to receive allegations of enforced disappearances and to run inquiries.




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