‘He used to let me write my biography, if I didn’t give it on time, he wouldn’t let me sleep’

A+ A A-

Nazim Uddin was given a pen and paper to write his biography while he was kept hidden in the JIC cell of DGFI. If you could not finish the writing in time, you were not allowed to sleep.

A witness named Nazim Uddin gave such a statement in the International Criminal Tribunal-1 on Monday. He testified today as the fifth witness in a case of crimes against humanity committed during the previous Awami League government’s disappearance in JIC.

Nazim Uddin, a resident of Jessore’s Manirampur Upazila, said in his deposition that he is a computer businessman. Local BNP is involved in politics. He was the office secretary of Jubodal Manirampur municipal branch. Manirampur Upazila volunteer team office secretary also served.

In the deposition, Nazim Uddin said that he used to write on Facebook against Awami League and India since 2009. Because of that he became the enemy of many. Realizing this, he moved to Dhaka to start a business. He rented an office inside Mirpur DOHS. On the morning of May 25, 2016, he was picked up in a black Hiis microbus from opposite the Mirpur-12 BRTA bus stand in front of Molla Tower.

Nazim Uddin said that he was kept in a room measuring 8 feet by 11 feet. There was a wooden post and a plastic pot in one corner of that room. For the first 2 to 3 days he was in a daze and could not understand anything. Being a bit normal, he noticed that there was a lot of writing on the walls of the room. One of them read ‘This is DGFI Headquarters JIC Cell.’ While there, he was allotted time with pen and paper to write his biography. He would not let me sleep if I could not finish writing in time.

Nazim Uddin also mentioned that he was interrogated four times in a room in the first 10 days. He said, later every 15 to 20 days they were taken to that room and interrogated for one day. He wants to know why he is writing against Awami League and India. He also wants to know who is involved in local politics with him. If he said he had no relationship with anyone, he would be tortured.

In his deposition, Nazim Uddin said that one day he was again taken for questioning and was told that his (Nazim) investigation was over. It is also said that it has been decided to release him, but he will have to stay for a few more days.

On December 8, 2016, they were brought down from a microbus in the Colonel Hat area of ​​Akbar Shah police station in Chittagong and stopped at a place, Nazim Uddin said. Two bags, two pistols and some bullets were kept there on a cloth. In front of these, two other persons and him were photographed. Then again they were picked up in the car and taken to Mukim Talukdar’s house. There they were presented in front of the journalists. At three o’clock that day, Akbar Shah handed them over to the police station. Three cases were filed against him. In one of which he was acquitted. The remaining two are under trial. He was released on bail in 2018 after serving 18 months in jail.

After going home, Nazim Uddin said that he left Saudi Arabia due to the persecution of Awami League leaders and the problems of the administration. He returned to the country on September 8, 2024. He also mentioned that he wanted justice for those responsible for his detention, torture, harassment and false cases.

3 out of 13 accused in this case of hiding in JIC are in subjail. They are three former directors of the Directorate General of Defense Intelligence (DGFI) Major General Sheikh Md. Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier General Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui and Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazahar Siddiqui. They were produced in the tribunal today.

10 other accused in the case are absconding. Among the absconding accused are five former DGFI DGFI Lt Gen (retd) Akbar Hossain, Major General (retd) Saiful Abedin, Lt Gen (retd) Saiful Alam, Lt Gen (retd) Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury and Major General (retd) Hamidul Haque.

Among the absconding accused are former director of DGFI Major General (retd) Mohammad Tauhidul ul Islam, Major General Kabir Ahmed and Lt Col (retd) Makhchurul Haque. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Defense Adviser Major General (retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddique are accused in the mass coup.