The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) picked up people — including ministers and political figures — and detained them in DGFI cells for interrogation between 2007 and 2009, former army chief General (retd) Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan told the International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday.
Testifying as a prosecution witness in a crimes against humanity case against former army officer Major General (retd) Ziaul Ahsan, Iqbal Karim said the DGFI had emerged as the main controlling authority during that period.
The case involves allegations against Ziaul Ahsan over his role in more than a hundred incidents of enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League government’s rule.
“They even picked up Tarique Rahman and subjected him to inhuman torture,” he told the tribunal.
The testimony began on Sunday before a two-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, with Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud as the other member.
At the start of the hearing, Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim presented the opening statement, assisted by prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Shaikh Mahdi, and others. The defence was represented by lawyers Naznin Nahar and Mansurul Haque Chowdhury.
In his deposition, Iqbal Karim said that detaining civilians in DGFI cells became a routine practice, and over time, a psychological barrier disappeared, leading officers to believe they could do anything to detainees at will.
He also referred to the army-led "Operation Clean Heart", stating that many killings took place during the operation before the formation of RAB in 2003.
According to him, 12 people officially died of heart attacks during interrogation, while Human Rights Watch reported the death toll at 60. He said those involved were later granted immunity, describing it as a “licence to kill.”
Earlier, on January 14, Tribunal-1 ordered the commencement of trial against Ziaul Ahsan by framing three charges and set the date for opening statements and witness testimony. As part of that process, Iqbal Karim appeared as the first witness.
After recording part of his testimony, the tribunal adjourned the hearing to Monday for further deposition.
