Former RAB 3 commander at tribunal
Ziaul Ahsan shot three people in the head and killed them in Joydebpur
Colonel Ziaul Ahsan at the tribunal. File photo
In testimony before the International Crimes Tribunal, retired Lieutenant Colonel Md. Rafiqul Islam, a former RAB officer, alleged that he witnessed at least three people being shot and killed during an operation led by then RAB officer Lieutenant Colonel Ziaul Ahsan on the night of July 11, 2011.
The former RAB officer made the allegations while testifying before the International Crimes Tribunal on Monday.
In his testimony, Rafiqul Islam said Ziaul Ahsan was the commander of RAB 3 at the time. After going to the RAB headquarters at night, Ziaul Ahsan, along with him and other officers, set out in several vehicles toward an unknown location. After about 40 minutes, the vehicles stopped near a bridge. There, a man whose hands and face were tied was taken out of a vehicle and made to stand beside the railing of the bridge. Ziaul Ahsan then shot the man in the head and threw him into the water.
A short while later, a person whose hands and eyes were tied was taken out of the vehicle at another bridge in the same manner. Ziaul Ahsan ordered Major Sazzadul to conduct an ‘anti terrorism operation’ against the person. When Sazzadul refused to carry out the operation, he was verbally abused and told to leave in the vehicle. Rafiqul Islam then heard the sound of a gunshot.
The testimony further stated that after the convoy moved forward, another person was seen being taken across the road toward a low lying area with his hands and eyes tied. A few minutes later, the sound of gunfire was heard from that area as well. Everyone then returned to the vehicles.
Rafiqul Islam said that three or four days after the incident, he learned from newspapers that the bodies of two or three people had been recovered with gunshot wounds in the Joydebpur area of Gazipur. However, during cross examination, he admitted that he had not informed his senior authorities about the matter on the night of the incident.
During cross examination, he further said that Major Sazzadul, Major Tarikul and Major Emarat were in his vehicle along with him during the operation. Other RAB members were in the other vehicles.
However, during cross examination by the defense, Rafiqul Islam did not deny any part of his statement. Rather, in response to several questions, he said he had “not said anything untrue.” Ultimately, he claimed that he had not given any false testimony.
