The Army Headquarters has confirmed that 15 of the officers named in arrest warrants issued by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) have been taken into custody, while one remains missing. According to the army, Major General Kabir Ahmed has been “illegally absent” from duty.
The issue has drawn widespread discussion following the tribunal’s issuance of arrest warrants in enforced disappearance cases and growing frustration among July uprising supporters over the delay in arrests. At a press briefing held on Saturday at Mess Alpha in Dhaka Cantonment, the Army’s Adjutant General, Major General Md Hakimuzzaman, disclosed the information.
Although a total of 25 serving and retired officers have been named in the warrants, 15 currently in service have been detained. Of the remaining 10, eight are already retired, one is in the process of retirement, and one officer— Major General Kabir Ahmed — remains missing.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 issued arrest warrants on Wednesday against 32 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in connection with three cases, two of which involve enforced disappearances during the Awami League regime. Of the accused, 25 are current or former military officers. The tribunal confirmed that the warrants were forwarded to 13 relevant agencies on the same day.
At the press conference, Major General Hakimuzzaman stated that the army had yet to officially receive the warrants but had already taken action. A total of 25 army personnel have been accused across three cases. Nine are retired, one is on LPR (leave before retirement), and 15 are still in service. After the warrants were issued on 8 October, all 16 serving and LPR officers were instructed to report to Army Headquarters by 9 October. Except for Major General Kabir Ahmed, all complied and are currently kept separately from their families,” he stated.
Regarding Major General Kabir Ahmed, Hakimuzzaman said, “He left his residence on the morning of 9 October and has not been seen since. The DGFI, NSI, and BGB have been instructed to ensure he does not leave the country.”
Major General Kabir Ahmed last served as Commandant of the School of Infantry and Tactics (SI&T) in Sylhet and is a former Director of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).
Discussions have also emerged about whether these officers will be tried in civilian or military courts. In response, Major General Hakimuzzaman said, “The Bangladesh Army respects all laws of the country as enshrined in the Constitution. Legal measures will be taken against those in custody in accordance with the law.”
The tribunal’s three cases involve crimes against humanity, including enforced disappearances and torture, committed during the Awami League government, and atrocities committed during the July mass uprising in Dhaka’s Rampura and Banasree areas.
Among the 32 accused are Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and five former police officers. Three of these are former Directors General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), one of whom, Benazir Ahmed, also served as Inspector General of Police (IGP). Two other accused were former police station officers-in-charge (OCs).
Five former DGFI chiefs and six other officials previously posted there have also been named. Eleven army officers who once served as RAB’s Additional Director General (Operations) or Director (Intelligence) are also accused. The list includes Sheikh Hasina’s former Security Adviser, Major General (Retd.) Tarique Ahmed Siddique.
In the Rampura and Banasree case, the accused include two former Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officers — Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Redwanul Islam and Major Md Rafat-bin-Alam Mun — along with two former police officials.
The tribunal has ordered that all 32 accused be arrested and produced before it by 22 October.
Calls for Arrests
Two student groups — the Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Council and the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement — have demanded the immediate arrest of the army officers named in the warrants. The Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement, which led the July uprising, has since evolved into an organisation, while former coordinators of the same movement formed the Democratic Students’ Council.
In separate press statements issued on Saturday, both groups urged the interim government to execute the warrants without delay.
The Democratic Students’ Council, in a statement signed by its Central Member-Secretary Zahid Ahsan, said,
“We express deep concern and strong resentment that despite the International Crimes Tribunal issuing arrest warrants against several army officers accused of crimes against humanity, the arrests have not yet been carried out. This delay undermines public confidence in justice and poses a serious obstacle to the rule of law. We believe that the culture of impunity endangers the nation’s post-uprising commitment to rebuild a new state based on justice and accountability.”
While praising the role of young officers and soldiers in the July uprising against “fascist rule,” the statement added,
“A few rogue officers during the previous authoritarian regime tarnished the image of the Bangladesh Army by committing crimes against humanity such as enforced disappearances, killings, and torture under the protection of RAB, DGFI, and other intelligence agencies. The army’s honour cannot be restored without bringing these perpetrators to justice.”
The Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement, in a statement signed by its president Rifat Rashid Pathan, said,
“Forty-eight hours have passed since the issuance of the arrest warrants, yet no visible action has been taken by the authorities. Some of the accused are reportedly attempting to flee the country. Such delays in post-uprising justice are deeply concerning and risk eroding public trust. We call upon the interim government to immediately ensure their arrest and fair trial.”
Rifat Rashid further stated,
“These army officers committed crimes against humanity to prolong the fascist Awami regime, thereby disgracing the army’s image. However, we must remember that the Bangladesh Army is the most vital institution for the nation’s independence, sovereignty, and security. In the July 2024 uprising, a large segment of the army—especially young officers and soldiers—stood with the people. Therefore, the army must not be placed in opposition to the citizens or the state.”
