Ex-army chief calls for RAB, DGFI abolition

Former Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff General (Retd) Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan has called for the immediate dissolution of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), alleging that both institutions have lost their legitimacy due to a culture of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

Testifying as the primary prosecution witness at International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday, General Bhuiyan provided a rare and damning insider account of state-sponsored atrocities during the 15-year tenure of the Awami League government. 

His testimony was delivered in a case involving crimes against humanity against dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan, who is accused of orchestrating over 100 enforced disappearances and murders.

Addressing the courtroom, the former military chief emphasized that his stance was not against the military as an institution, but rather a necessary move for its self-purification. 

He stated that the army has been tainted by its involvement in these agencies and urged that this opportunity for accountability not be squandered.

General Bhuiyan asserted that the DGFI effectively lost its right to exist after creating the "Ayna-ghor" (House of Mirrors), a notorious network of secret detention centers. 

He also argued that if RAB cannot be abolished entirely, all military personnel currently serving in the elite force should be immediately withdrawn.

During his two-day testimony, the retired General detailed his personal efforts to curb the "crossfire" culture while in office. 

He revealed that he had eventually suspended the posting of military officers to RAB, DGFI, and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after realizing that extrajudicial killings were continuing despite his warnings.

He further disclosed that his refusal to provide officers to RAB led to significant political pressure, including a direct request from then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a meeting in Chittagong. Despite threats that his actions bordered on "rebellion," General Bhuiyan stated he remained steadfast in his decision until his retirement.

In a poignant moment during cross-examination, General Bhuiyan admitted that the specialized training of soldiers is designed to "dehumanize" them to overcome the psychological barriers to killing, a factor he argued makes them fundamentally unsuitable for civilian law enforcement roles like those required in RAB.

Major General (Retd) Ziaul Ahsan, the sole accused in the case, was present in court. The tribunal, led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, has adjourned proceedings until February 18, when the defense is scheduled to continue its cross-examination.