Former Army Officer Testifies Against Ziaul Ahsan in Crimes Against Humanity Trial
The trial of retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan before the International Crimes Tribunal continued with the testimony of retired Major Khondakar Mohammad Sajjadul Islam, who recounted events allegedly witnessed while serving with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in July 2011.
Barrister Shyikh Mahdi represented the Prosecution and Shahidur Rahman represented the Defence.
Major Sajjadul testified that he was transferred to RAB pursuant to a government order in 2011 and joined the RAB Headquarters on 5 July of that year. Following six days of official formalities, he was posted to RAB-3 on 11 July 2011. At the time, Lieutenant Colonel Ziaul Ahsan was serving as Director of Intelligence at RAB.
According to his testimony, on the evening of 11 July 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Ziaul Ahsan summoned him and informed him that three individuals had been detained from Pubail in Gazipur and instructed him to accompany him. Major Sajjadul stated that he travelled in a vehicle with Ziaul Ahsan and approximately eight to ten other personnel to the Pubail area, where they arrived at around 10:30 p.m.
He told the Tribunal that upon arrival, he observed three blindfolded individuals seated in a field. Shortly thereafter, he alleged that Ziaul Ahsan fired at one of the detainees in his presence. He further testified that two additional gunshots were heard moments later. Thereafter, the witness stated that he and the accompanying personnel returned to RAB Headquarters in Dhaka, where he was instructed to remain silent about the incident.
The witness further alleged that on the following day he became aware through media reports that three individuals had been killed in what was reported as a “crossfire” incident. He testified that he was deeply disturbed by what he had witnessed and subsequently sought a transfer from RAB.
The testimony forms part of the prosecution’s evidence in the crimes against humanity case arising from allegations of enforced disappearances and the killing of more than one hundred individuals during the previous Awami League government’s tenure. The case against Ziaul Ahsan includes three charges that were formally framed by the Tribunal on 14 January 2026.
According to the formal charges previously framed by the Tribunal, the allegations include the killing of three persons in Pubail, Gazipur on 11 July 2011, and the alleged killing of approximately one hundred individuals in separate incidents in Barguna between 2010 and 2013. Ziaul Ahsan is the sole accused in the proceedings.
The International Crimes Tribunal commenced the trial after rejecting an application seeking the accused’s discharge. The prosecution has since been presenting witness testimony in support of the charges.
The testimony of Major Sajjadul constitutes prosecution evidence presently under consideration by the Tribunal. The allegations against the accused remain subject to judicial determination, and Ziaul Ahsan is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in accordance with law.
Relevant news reports in this regard are as follows:
RTV Online: https://rtvonline.com/law-order/394667
JagoNews24.com: https://www.jagonews24.com/law-courts/news/1141491