Former Army Chief Shafiuddin, Two Officers Charged with Enforced Disappearance at International Crimes Tribunal

The other two officers are Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Akbar Hossain and Major General (Retd) Md Sarwar Hossain

TBS report

September 30, 2024, at 17:20

Last modified: September 30, 2024, 17:25

Representative photo: collected

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Representative photo: collected

Former army chief (retd) SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and two other retired officers have been accused of involvement in enforced disappearances, according to a complaint filed with the International Crimes Tribunal.

The other two officers are Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Akbar Hossain and Major General (Retd) Md Sarwar Hossain.

The complaint was filed today (September 30) by Major (retd) M. Sarwar Hossain, a Supreme Court lawyer and former army officer, with the investigative agency of the Tribunal at Dhanmondi in Dhaka.

In the complaint, Sarwar claims that in 2016 he became the victim of an attempted forced disappearance.

Speaking to The Business Standard, lawyer Sarwar Hossain said, “I have provided information regarding the enforced disappearance to the Enforced Disappearances Inquiry Commission. I have now lodged a formal complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal.”

According to the complaint, the three retired officers are accused of complicity in maintaining an authoritarian regime and are responsible for abductions, murders and maintaining secret detention centers, including the infamous “Aynaghar” facility.

Sarwar claims that on October 27, 2016, he was summoned to the headquarters of the Directorate General of Force Intelligence (DGFI) on the pretext of drinking tea.

There, he was threatened with being placed in a secret detention center for speaking out against the government. He was held for 11 hours and then released.

Sarwar, who served in the army for 20 years, voluntarily retired in 2007 and began practicing law.

Since 2008, he has been speaking out on issues such as good governance, justice, democracy and human rights, often participating in national and international media forums.

In the complaint, Sarwar said: “The accused cannot tolerate criticism. Because I talk about democracy, governance and human rights and criticize fascist regimes, they were furious with me.”

In his complaint, Sarwar also alleged that General (retd) Shafiuddin is accused of suppressing dissent, violating human rights and helping manipulate the 2024 elections, which Sarwar said destroyed democracy in the country.

It is alleged that Lt Gen (retd) Akbar Hossain kept many people in secret jails while serving in DGFI between 2010 and 2018.

He is also accused of participating in extrajudicial killings and supporting fraudulent elections in 2014 and 2018.

In the complaint against Major General (retired) Md. Sarwar Hossain is alleged to have been involved in enforced disappearances, killings and repeated human rights violations between 2015 and 2016, when he was the director of DGFI.

Sarwar also accuses him of being a key figure in maintaining the previous authoritarian regime.

Apart from filing the complaint, Sarwar Hossain asked the Court to impose a travel ban on the accused officers until the investigation is completed.