Ex-DIG Testifies Over Alleged Killing of Two BNP Leaders

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has admitted as evidence the testimony of former Deputy Inspector General of Police Mohammad Humayun Kabir in a crimes-against-humanity case involving the alleged extrajudicial killing of two leaders of BNP’s student and cultural wings in Agailjhara, Barishal.

In his deposition, the former DIG alleged that then Barishal Superintendent of Police AKM Ehsanullah carried out the killings under political instructions and influence from former Barishal-1 MP Abul Hasanat Abdullah.

The prosecution on Tuesday sought to have Humayun Kabir’s deposition, which was recorded by the investigation agency, admitted as evidence. Tribunal-2 granted the application.

The tribunal also completed the testimony of the investigation officer, who appeared as the 23rd prosecution witness in the case on the same day.

The four accused are former MP Abul Hasanat Abdullah, former Barishal SP AKM Ehsanullah, and former assistant sub-inspectors Mohammad Mahabul Islam and Mohammad Jasim Uddin of Uzirpur police station.

Hasanat Abdullah and Ehsanullah are absconding, while the two arrested police officers were produced before the tribunal on Tuesday.

According to the deposition submitted to the tribunal, a case was filed after a vehicle carrying fruit was set on fire in Agailjhara on February 9, 2015.

Under the supervision of SP Ehsanullah, Tipu Howlader, then joint general secretary of Agailjhara upazila Chhatra Dal, and Kabir Molla, organising secretary of the upazila unit of Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas), were arrested in Dhaka and Keraniganj.

They were allegedly shot dead in Agailjhara at around 2:15am on February 21.

Humayun Kabir testified that after the incident, he questioned then Agailjhara police station officer-in-charge Monirul Islam, who told him that the SP had ordered the two detainees to be killed in a staged “crossfire” incident.

According to the former DIG, police personnel at Agailjhara police station refused to carry out the order, prompting the SP to bring officers from Uzirpur police station to execute the killings.

The SP later went to the police station and instructed officers to make an entry in the general diary, the former DIG testified.

Humayun Kabir further said he made adverse remarks about Ehsanullah in his annual confidential report in 2015 over what he described as unprofessional conduct and the killings. He said the report was sent to police headquarters, after which Ehsanullah was transferred from Barishal to Magura.

Despite the adverse remarks, Ehsanullah was later promoted to additional DIG and posted again to the Barishal range, allegedly because of his close ties to Hasanat Abdullah, according to Humayun Kabir’s testimony.

The formal charges in the case allege that Hasanat Abdullah abused state power after failing to politically counter Tipu Howlader and Kabir Molla, whom the prosecution describes as political rivals.

The charges further allege that, following planning and conspiracy, the two leaders were shot dead by subordinate police officers on the night of February 21, 2015, near the west side of Bor Bridge on the Agailjhara bypass road of the Gournadi-Gopalganj highway.

The allegations are part of the ongoing tribunal proceedings and have not been established by a final judgment.