Ex-RAB Commander Taken Into Military Custody

File photo of Miftah Uddin Ahmed

Brig Gen Miftah Uddin Ahmed, former commander of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-7, has been taken into military custody over allegations of involvement in the killing of Teknaf municipal councillor Ekramul Haque in Cox's Bazar.

A Bangladesh Army source confirmed the development late on Monday, saying legal proceedings would be initiated against the officer in accordance with the country's laws.

Miftah Uddin, who was serving as the station commander of Barishal Cantonment, was taken into military custody on Monday night.

Earlier in the day, a complaint was filed with the International Crimes Tribunal against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 10 others over the killing of Ekramul Haque, who was allegedly killed in 2018 under the guise of an anti-narcotics operation.

The tribunal took cognisance of the complaint, issued arrest warrants for eight absconding accused and ordered that the three accused already in custody be produced before the court.

The other accused include former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, former lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi, Brig Gen Mahbub Alam of the Bangladesh Army, Brig Gen Miftah Uddin Ahmed, retired Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, retired Major Ruhul Amin, former DGFI officer Squadron Leader Nazmus Sakib and Lieutenant Commander Ashikur Rahman.

According to the complaint, Ekramul Haque was abducted from in front of Hotel Ne-Taung in Kirontoli, Teknaf, at around 10:30pm on 26 May 2018. Between about 11:00pm and midnight, the 46-year-old municipal councillor was allegedly killed in what RAB described as a "gunfight" on the Marine Drive beach at Noakhaliapara under Teknaf Sadar Union.

Ekramul Haque was the elected councillor of Ward No. 3 of Teknaf Municipality.

The complaint states that the killing was an extrajudicial execution. In December 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on seven current and former RAB officials over alleged serious human rights violations linked to such incidents.

At the time of the incident, Benazir Ahmed was serving as director general of RAB, while Miftah Uddin Ahmed was commanding RAB-7 in Cox's Bazar. Both were among the officials sanctioned by the United States.