28, Including Ex-DGFI & RAB Officers, Charged with Crimes Against Humanity

The International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday filed crimes against humanity charges against 28 individuals, including 25 former senior officers of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), alleging their roles in enforced disappearances and torture under their command.

The chief prosecutor, Md Tajul Islam, submitted the charges to International Crimes Tribunal‑1. Among the accused are deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former defence adviser Major General (Retd.) Tarique Ahmed Siddique. The cases focus on alleged abuses at secret detention sites—“Aynaghar” inside DGFI headquarters at Dhaka Cantonment, and a covert facility within the RAB‑1 office in Uttara.

According to the prosecution, 22 of the accused are high-ranking military officers: 11 affiliated with DGFI and 11 deputed to RAB‑1. Of those in RAB‑1, nine remain in service. Alongside Hasina, Khan, and Siddique, other named individuals include ex-RAB Directors General Benazir Ahmed, Khurshid Hossain, and Harun ur Rashid, all accused of superior command responsibility in the disappearances and torture.

The interim government, which took office on 8 August 2024, uncovered these secret detention centers just days after the prior regime’s fall. Many victims who disappeared under the former government were reportedly released following the power change.

The three-member Tribunal‑1, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, accepted four charges against the 28 accused and issued arrest warrants, as all are currently evading arrest. The tribunal instructed that warrants be sent to military authorities for those still in service and asked the police Inspector General to report on enforcement.

Beyond Hasina, Khan, and Siddique, prominent accused include senior RAB officials such as former Additional DGs Anwar Latif Khan, Md Jahangir Alam, Tofael Mostafa Sarwar, AKM Azad, Kamrul Hasan, Md Mahbub Alam, and Abdullah Al Momen. Also implicated are four ex-intelligence directors of RAB‑1: Sarwar Bin Kashem, Muhammad Khairul Islam, Mashiur Rahman Jewel, and Saiful Islam Suman.

On the DGFI side, accused former army officers include retired DGFI Directors General Md Akbar Hossain, Md Saiful Abedin, Md Saiful Alam, Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, and Hamidul Huq. Additional DGFI (CTIB) directors named include Mohammad Towhid‑ul-Islam, Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Kobir Ahmed, Mahbub Rahman Siddique, Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddique, and Makhsurul Haq.

Investigating prosecutors have stated that one case involves 17 accused for disappearances and torture at RAB’s secret detention site, and another implicates 13 accused, including Hasina and Siddique, for similar abuses at DGFI. Both cases list Hasina and Siddique as common accused.

Evidence indicates that 26 persons were forcibly disappeared and tortured at the Joint Interrogation Cell (“Aynaghar”) within DGFI headquarters, which reportedly contained 22 detention cells. Detained individuals included Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, Humam Quader Chowdhury, and Michael Chakma. Meanwhile, 13 persons were allegedly held and tortured at RAB‑1’s secret facility, among them Supreme Court lawyer Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman.

During Wednesday’s hearing, survivors of enforced disappearance appeared in court as key witnesses. Prosecutors emphasized that the case targets those with command responsibility, not just field-level operatives.

Some prior accused—such as former Major General Ziaul Ahsan and DIG Md Asaduzzaman—were initially named but later dropped from the DGFI case; prosecutors suggested they may face separate proceedings.

Md Tajul Islam, after filing formal charges, said that cases involving returned victims were prioritized, while investigations of still-missing individuals will continue. Charges include abduction, unlawful confinement, torture, and enforced disappearance as crimes against humanity, attributed through direct participation, instigation, command, or failure to prevent.

The Tribunal, having reviewed evidence under sections 3(2), 4(1), 4(2), and 4(3) of the ICT Act, 1973, issued arrest warrants. These were forwarded to key military and government offices for action. A further order is set for 22 October.

Under a recent amendment, the nine serving military officers named can no longer remain in service. According to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, over 300 people remain missing from enforced disappearances during the prior regime. The commission has received 1,850 complaints, verified 1,350, and anticipates total complaints could exceed 3,500.

In its December 2024 interim report, the inquiry commission had already implicated Hasina and security officials, and recommended disbanding the RAB. That report had also found possible involvement of Ziaul Ahsan, senior police officials, and other high-level figures.