Victims were taken to sites and killed in staged ‘gunfights’: Ex-Rab commander

A former Rab commander has alleged before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that several operations in Bhola and the Sundarbans, officially described as “gunfights with bandits”, appeared to have been staged, with the victims taken to the locations and killed.

Retired Brig Gen Monirul Haque, a prosecution witness in the crimes against humanity case against Maj Gen (relieved) Ziaul Ahsan, made the allegation while describing how Rab’s Intelligence Wing operated outside the law to carry out extrajudicial killings.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Monirul, who served as commanding officer of Rab-8 from 2008 to 2012, was cross-examined by Ziaul’s defence counsel at the tribunal today.

During questioning, he acknowledged that pirates, forest bandits and other armed groups had long terrorised the Sundarbans coastal region, making life extremely difficult for local residents during his tenure.

He said the groups routinely extorted money from woodcutters, honey collectors, fishermen, traders and others, abducted people for ransom and, in some cases, killed their victims.

Asked whether the activities of the armed groups had made life miserable for residents during his posting with Rab-8, Monirul replied, “Yes.”

He also told the tribunal that he could not recall whether Rab-8 had conducted nine operations in 2010 in which 14 people were killed, nine operations in 2011 that left 18 people dead, and five operations in 2012 in which 16 people were killed.

Ziaul is the sole accused in the case. Prosecutors allege that he orchestrated the enforced disappearance and murder of 104 people between 2010 and 2013.