‘Whenever Aynaghar doors opened, everyone trembled with fear’

Former army officer Lieutenant Colonel Hasinur Rahman, a recipient of gallantary award Bir Pratik for bravery against ‘insurgency’ in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, has faced a turbulent life, including being victim of enforced disappearance twice. His first disappearance occurred in 2011, and the second began on August 8, 2018, during which he was missing for one year, six months, and 14 days.

Over the course of his career, Hasinur Rahman served in the Bangladesh Army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). He was also recognised with three state honours, including the BPM and Bangladesh Rifles medals, for his distinguished service.

Now, Hasinur Rahman has turned to legal avenues, filing applications with the Disappearance Commission formed by the interim government and lodging a complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal. He is also preparing to file a case related to his disappearance.

In an exclusive two-part interview with Jago News, conducted by senior reporter Md Tuhiduzzaman Tonmoy, Hasinur Rahman delves into several significant topics. He discusses the Judge Miah issue, militant operations, his experiences in the infamous Aynaghar and prison, and his time working with RAB.

It is the first part of the two-part candid and revealing interview.

Jago News: What caused to become a victim of enforced disappearance?

Hasinur Rahman: The term "disappearance" refers to being forcibly taken to an unknown location against my will, where my family and relatives have no idea where I am. The first time I was disappeared, I was held for 43 days—handcuffed to the floor and blindfolded. Later, I was sent to jail.

The main reason for my disappearance and subsequent imprisonment was my role in RAB. I served in RAB in 2009, during the time of the ninth parliamentary election, which was orchestrated. 

In 2008, I was told to favour the Awami League from that point onward. I refused. Additionally, RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) tried to collaborate with me multiple times, but I did not comply. After my refusals, I became their target—they likely believed that if they could silence me, their objectives would become easier. Otherwise, my stance and actions would continue to pose a challenge to them.

I also raised critical questions during my tenure. For example, I once asked Chairman Zafar about the source of weapons of AL leader ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury. Zafar admitted that Fazle Karim had provided him with at least a dozen AK-47s and an LMG...

Jago News: You have often been labelled as antagonist to the neighbouring country. Is that true?

Hasinur Rahman: The reality is that India has repeatedly provoked the small ethnic groups in our hill tracts by providing them with weapons, training, and ammunition. As a result, our army, Ansar, police, and ordinary Bengalis have suffered significant casualties. This is why many of us officers have developed an anti-India stance. 

Jago News: What led to your removal from RAB?

Hasinur Rahman: At the end of 2008, ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, who was not yet an MP at the time, approached me with a disturbing request. He wanted a Union Parishad chairman, Zafar, to be put in a crossfire. I arrested Zafar instead. However, Fazle Karim insisted that Zafar must be eliminated.

During questioning, Chairman Zafar revealed to me that Fazle Karim had orchestrated his arrest because Zafar refused to carry out his order to kill a relative. Zafar said, "I am his foot soldier. He gave me at least a dozen AK-47s and an LMG."

Following Zafar's arrest, I tried to recover the weapons he mentioned. Somehow, Fazle Karim learned about this and realised that if the weapons were seized, it could jeopardize his election plans. Soon after, I was transferred out of RAB. This was clearly a move to protect Fazle Karim's interests.

Jago News: What happened after that?

Hasinur Rahman: After my transfer from RAB, I returned to my original force in Mymensingh. Shortly after, the tragic BDR massacre took place. I was outspoken about the incident, as I believed the Awami League was deeply involved in its planning. At that time, RAB was expected to act, but they failed to perform their duties. Or rather, they weren’t allowed to. It was heart-breaking to witness—we lost 57 officers in that tragedy.

Many officers were furious, and some were even implicated in cases like the Taposh assassination attempt. Innocent individuals were made to suffer as part of a larger scheme to extend Sheikh Hasina’s grip on power. Numerous unethical actions were carried out during her tenure. Fazle Noor Taposh, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mirza Azam, and others played pivotal roles in these plans, which were aimed at pleasing India and weakening the army's strength.

Another controversial event was the eviction of Khaleda Zia from her cantonment residence. It should have been handled more carefully, especially since the wounds from the BDR mutiny were still fresh. The timing was particularly harsh, as many army officers were left jobless following the massacre, and the eviction only deepened their resentment.

Jago News: What happened to you in 2011?

Hasinur Rahman: The rulers at the time believed I was "acting" against them, planning a coup d'état. On July 9, 2011, I was picked up from my office. They accused me of sitting in Mymensingh and coordinating activities in Naikhyangchari while communicating with various countries. They claimed I was involved in big plans with a party.

In reality, my maid, who was from the hill tracts, was using my mobile phone to discuss her marriage with her future husband and family. Based on this baseless assumption, they fabricated allegations against me and sent me to jail.

To frame me, they coerced two individuals to act as witnesses. One was held hostage for two months and 23 days, while the other was detained for seven months and 15 days until they testified. One of them has since filed a complaint with the Disappearance Commission regarding their treatment.

When I was taken, there were over 20 others in the facility. Each of us was confined to separate dark rooms where the lights remained on 24/7. Mosquitoes were everywhere, making the conditions unbearable. However, we did receive three meals a day, which were tolerable.

Jago News: How did you live after coming out of prison?

Hasinur Rahman: After coming out of prison, I became very active on Facebook for the first time. Many of us who were outspoken on social media eventually disappeared—Diplomat Maruf Zaman, Chowdhury Iqbal Hossain, myself, and another individual named Anis, to name a few.

I faced challenges in my personal life too. I applied to Cantonment School for my daughter to take her SSC exam, but admission was denied. Ultimately, my daughter had to take her SSC from a school run by Chakmas in Mirpur-13.

Financially, I faced roadblocks as well. I had money in the bank, loans, and investments in the share market. Selling those shares would have resulted in a profit, but I wasn’t allowed to sell them. This left me in a very precarious situation.

Jago News: How did you feel in 2018 when you realised you were going to disappear?

Hasinur Rahman: On the night of August 8, 2018, I returned from a friend’s house to my home in the Mirpur DOHS area and noticed an unusual number of people outside. There shouldn’t have been so many people there at that hour. I had a pistol with me, but as I approached, everyone surrendered, and some fled. Suddenly, someone kicked me from behind. I lost consciousness for a few seconds, and my pistol fell from my hand. They didn’t take the pistol—it was left on the spot—but they forced me into a car.

I was brutally beaten during the abduction and then taken to a dark cell. Based on the car's movement and distance, I guessed the location was near Kachukhet or the cantonment post office area. I was held there for one year, six months, and 14 days.

The place had over 20 people, each imprisoned in a separate room. The rooms were completely dark, with the lights kept on 24/7. Mosquitoes were a constant nuisance, but we were given three meals a day, and there was a doctor on-site.

Despite this, the nights were terrifying. The sounds of screaming, crying, and fear echoed through the cells, making sleep impossible at times. The iron doors of the cells would open suddenly, and everyone would tremble in fear.

During my confinement, I went on a hunger strike, demanding to know why I had been taken. However, they couldn’t provide me with any proper reason for my abduction. 

Jago News: Do you have any memories of being in confinement that you can share?

Hasinur Rahman: In the place where we were held, there were always two guards stationed. I had access to various items that could potentially be used for survival or even to attack someone, but I could never catch both guards together at the same time.

Almost every day, when the power went out, there was about a minute of darkness before the generator kicked in. During that time, I would pick up dirt from the floor and smear it over the CCTV camera in my cell. Over time, the camera began to malfunction.

I also dismantled part of the bed and took out a nail, thinking I could use it to harm one of the guards. At another point, they gave me scissors to use in the bathroom. I hid the scissors in my sandals, constantly thinking of a way to use them to my advantage.

I often contemplated attacking one of the guards because I believed that I might die in that prison. I thought about trying to escape, even if it meant taking extreme measures. But despite my efforts and plans, I was never able to act on those thoughts or find the right moment. In the end, nothing came of it.

Jago News: Did you meet anyone you knew while in captivity?

Hasinur Rahman: One day, while coming out of the bathroom, I unexpectedly saw Azmi Sir (former Brigadier General Abdullahil Aman al Azmi). Although Sir didn’t recognise me, I immediately recognised him. It was winter at the time. Azmi Sir was staying in the old complex, while I was in the new complex. The bathrooms in the old complex had pans not commodes, making it difficult for many to use. Because of this, Azmi Sir was brought to the new complex, where the bathrooms had commodes.

I saw him briefly when I was being taken out of the bathroom, and he was being brought in. Since then, I kept wondering where Sir was being kept.

On another occasion, the damaged CCTV camera in my room was being repaired. During this process, I was temporarily moved to a room in the old complex. While there, I noticed that all ten rooms in the new complex were occupied, and it was clear there were people in the old complex rooms too.

During my time in custody, I came across three people I recognised while being escorted to the bathroom: former ambassador Maruf Zaman, freedom fighter Iqbal Chowdhury, and Azami Sir. These encounters made me wonder about the fates of others who were being held in similar conditions.

Jago News: What did you do after you got out?

Hasinur Rahman: After I was released, I stayed at home, and time passed that way. I reached out to Major (retd.) Delwar, who was my unit officer. I told him that I had seen Brigadier General Azmi Sir, and he needed to be rescued. I asked him to send two men to help with the task.

However, the DGFI got wind of my plan to help Azmi Sir, and shortly after, 10-12 cases were filed against me under the ICT Act. Prior to this, I had already faced charges in a militant-related case.

Jago News: What was your role before and after August 5?

Hasinur Rahman: After Abu Sayeed was killed in Rangpur, I started spending more time with the students. We were actively engaged in the field until August 5. On that day, I went live on Facebook around 5 pm. I issued a three-hour ultimatum to release Azmi Sir. However, I felt that it would be happen with my words only. Then, I went to Brigadier Hasan Nasir Sir and he also went live on Facebook at 6:00pm issuing a two-hour ultimatue to release Brigadier Azmi. By 8pm, we got mobilised at Kachukhet. I knew that Barrister Arman, the lawyer, was there, but I wasn't sure if UPDF organiser Michael Chakma too was a captive there.

The discussions continued till past midnight, and after some negotiations, we reached an agreement that the cofninees will be released. This was the result of Abu Sayeed's sacrifice, not anyone else's. The student community taught us how to lodge protests effectively.

Jago News: How was your experience with militant operations while serving in RAB?

Hasinur Rahman: When I joined RAB, I was deeply troubled by JMB. I couldn't bear the threat they posed. Former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar once told me, "Hasin Bhai, save us." At the time, I was posted in Chittagong. In a moment of urgency, I called Colonel Gulzar and asked him to meet near Chittagong Gate. Around midnight, I spotted Javed Iqbal, alias Mohammad, the regional commander of the banned JMB, entering a house on Water Tank Lane near the gate. I rushed in, grabbed him by the throat, and threw him to the ground, where I also found the district commander.

The key tips of JMB’s activities came from Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami, the former amir of Jamaat-e-Islami. Back then, the public also played a crucial role in helping us capture JMB members.

Jago News: You were in the infamous Aynaghar. Will you take any legal action?  

Hasinur Rahman: Yes, I will file a defamation case. After that, I will investigate who filed the cases against me.