Over 150 Bangladesh Army Officers Under International Crimes Tribunal Lens for Human Rights Abuses
Dhaka, October 12 (TheTrendingPeople): In a major development, more than 150 serving and retired officers of the Bangladesh Army have reportedly come under the scrutiny of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for alleged human rights violations, including excesses on students, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings during the last decade and a half.
Sources privy to the investigation said that a fresh charge sheet is likely to be submitted against these officers, with warrants expected to be issued between Tuesday and Thursday. The accused include several former Army Chiefs who served between 2009 and 2025, marking one of the most extensive probes into the Bangladesh military establishment in recent history.
ICT Targets Senior Military and Intelligence Officials
According to ICT sources, the tribunal’s investigation has expanded its scope beyond the Army, with top officials from the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and Bangladesh Navy also likely to be named. The move follows reports of the July–August 2024 student protests, during which hundreds of civilians were allegedly killed by security forces. Eyewitness accounts and preliminary findings suggest that helicopter-mounted sniper rifles were used to fire at protesters, prompting calls for accountability.
Investigators have also indicated that the charge sheet may name former chiefs of security and intelligence agencies, including the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Special Security Force (SSF), and Presidential Guard Regiment (PGR).
Officials who held key positions in the Prime Minister’s Office, President’s Office, and Bangladeshi embassies abroad are also reportedly under investigation for allegedly executing politically motivated operations during the tenure of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.
Involvement of Pro-Jamaat and ISI-Linked Figures
Highly placed sources suggest that Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operatives are also playing a behind-the-scenes role in the ongoing process. Two mid-ranking ISI officers are believed to have arrived in Dhaka in August 2025 to collaborate with ICT officials and local political intermediaries.
Among the local figures reportedly involved in finalizing the list of accused are Lt Gen (Retd) S.M. Kamrul Hasan, National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman, Adilur Rahman Khan (interim government advisor), Brig Gen (Retd) Abdullahil Amaan Azmi (son of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ghulam Azam), law advisor Asif Nazrul, and Tajul Islam, who currently serves as the Chief Prosecutor of the ICT.
Sources further claim that several pro-Jamaat military officers within the Army, Air Force, and Navy have formed an internal pressure group to compel Army Chief General Waker Uz Zaman to comply with the Yunus interim government’s directives. These radicalised officers are allegedly plotting the formation of an “Islamic Revolutionary Army (IRA)”—a proposed faction aimed at consolidating Islamist influence within the armed forces.
Possible Coup Conspiracy and Internal Discord
Intelligence inputs reportedly indicate that this group of Jamaat-inclined junior officers is planning violent purges within cantonments, targeting officers perceived as “pro-India” or loyal to the Awami League. Security sources have described the situation as “volatile and closely monitored”, warning that any internal mutiny could trigger a wider security crisis across the country.
Meanwhile, the ICT’s Thursday filing has already named 11 senior Army officers, including eight generals, on charges of “crimes against humanity”—a serious offence that carries the death penalty under Bangladeshi law.
Notably, the latest charge sheet also identifies former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a principal accused, in connection with allegations of systematic political suppression, unlawful detentions, and human rights abuses during her administration.
Implications for Bangladesh’s Political Landscape
The tribunal’s investigation could have far-reaching implications for Bangladesh’s military and political stability, as the Yunus-led interim government seeks to distance itself from the policies of the previous regime. Analysts believe that the ICT’s actions may mark the beginning of an extensive accountability campaign against those accused of atrocities during the Hasina era.
As of now, no official response has been issued by the Bangladesh Armed Forces Division or General Waker Uz Zaman, while the ICT has declined to comment on the specifics of the upcoming charge sheet, citing the sensitivity of ongoing judicial proceedings.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The impending tribunal proceedings against top military officials signal a turbulent chapter in Bangladesh’s ongoing struggle for justice and accountability. As the ICT widens its probe, the nation stands at a crossroads between confronting its past and preserving its institutional stability.