Sham administrative investigations were conducted to give extrajudicial killings an appearance of legal legitimacy whenever such incidents came to public attention, according to Md Rafiqul Islam, the investigation officer in the crimes against humanity case against former army officer Ziaul Ahsan.
The investigator told International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Thursday that controlled administrative inquiries were used to conceal the identities of those responsible for the killings.
He said the findings emerged during his investigation into the allegations against Ziaul Ahsan.
The tribunal recorded the investigation officer’s testimony on 8 October. The remaining part of his testimony is scheduled to be recorded on Sunday, 11 October.
In his deposition, Rafiqul Islam said that whenever an extrajudicial killing became public, a staged administrative or executive inquiry was conducted to make the killing appear lawful.
Such controlled investigations were designed to ensure that the actual perpetrators remained concealed, he said.
The investigation officer alleged that officials were forced to prepare false and misleading post-mortem and police reports, concealing the actual causes of death to produce predetermined investigation findings.
The objective was to protect those responsible for the killings, he added.
Rafiqul Islam began testifying on 30 September as the prosecution’s 15th and final witness in the crimes against humanity case against Ziaul Ahsan, involving allegations of enforced disappearances and killings of more than 100 people.
During his testimony, he described the investigation procedures, the individuals whose statements he recorded, the locations he visited and the evidence and information he collected.
Several army officers, including former army chief Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, have testified in the case.
According to the prosecution, their testimonies detailed how Ziaul Ahsan allegedly became a “serial killer”.
Witnesses also described how officers of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) gradually became involved in such crimes.
Accused of killing 104 people
The case against Ziaul Ahsan was filed over allegations that he was directly involved in state-sponsored enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League government’s tenure.
On 14 January, International Crimes Tribunal-1 framed three charges against him, formally beginning the trial over allegations involving the killing of 104 people.
The prosecution alleges that between 2009 and 2016, Ziaul Ahsan served as director of RAB’s intelligence wing and additional inspector general (operations).
During that period, he allegedly participated directly in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
The prosecution further claims that RAB personnel committed these crimes under his instructions and with his approval.
From RAB posting to major general
According to prosecution sources, Ziaul Ahsan became a close and trusted associate of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina after being posted to RAB as an army major in 2009.
He did not return to the Bangladesh Army before being dismissed from service in 2024.
Instead, he served in various forces and agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs during that period.
The prosecution alleges that Ziaul Ahsan was promoted to the rank of major general without completing the required courses and training or gaining experience commanding a battalion or brigade.
It claims that such a promotion was unprecedented in the professional history of the Bangladesh Army.
