Dhaka:
Strong reactions have emerged from within the Bangladesh Army following recent statements made by former army chief General (retd) Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan regarding enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and the role of elite forces during the tenure of the Awami League government.
A serving army officer, identifying himself as a “concerned army officer,” has published an open letter on social media sharply criticising the former chief’s remarks, calling them “exaggerated,” “opportunistic,” and “shameful for the institution.”
The controversy arose after General (retd) Bhuiyan met with International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, where he reportedly spoke about alleged abuses, including the role of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and intelligence agencies during the previous government. His comments have since triggered backlash from sections of serving and retired military personnel.
In the open letter, the officer questions the moral and professional credibility of the former army chief, asking why he chose to speak out only after the fall of the government. “If these were the truths, why did it take you 15 years to disclose them?” the officer writes. He notes that General Bhuiyan retired in 2015 and argues that allegations of corruption.
repression and enforced disappearances were already widely discussed during his tenure. “Why did you remain silent then, despite knowing everything?” the letter asks.
Referring specifically to the 2014 national election, the officer claims that although the army was deployed, it was effectively rendered inactive.
“Seventy-two hours before the election, we were ordered to stay inside our camps. A brutal episode of vote rigging unfolded before your eyes, yet we did not hear your voice that day,” the letter states. The officer argues that by failing to take responsibility at the time and speaking out only now, the former army chief has opened himself to accusations of political convenience.
Allegation of Tarnishing the Entire Force
The letter also accuses General Bhuiyan of unfairly implicating the entire military and security establishment by naming a few senior officers while discussing abuses involving RAB and intelligence agencies. Over the past 17 years, the letter notes, thousands of officers have served in RAB, DGFI and NSI, and the actions of a handful cannot be attributed to all.
“When you drag the names of a few generals and cast a shadow over the entire force, the pride and dignity of nearly 200,000 serving soldiers are wounded,” the officer writes. He questions whether, by the former chief’s logic, all 70–80 officers typically serving in a RAB unit should be considered criminals.
Claiming that 98 percent of army officers and soldiers are honest and professional, the letter states that many now feel humiliated before their families and society because of such sweeping allegations. The officer warns that the legacy of the army’s 54-year history cannot be “stained with blanket accusations.”
In a strongly worded conclusion, the officer issues a warning: if General Bhuiyan does not publicly acknowledge that his statements were exaggerated and issue a more responsible clarification, he will surrender his commission. “I know I am not alone,” the letter adds, claiming that many other officers are considering similar steps.
The letter ends with an appeal to the former army chief to act responsibly and prioritise the dignity of the armed forces over personal visibility on social media.
