Ziaul Ahsan (জিয়াউল আহসান) nickname Topu (তপু) is a former Bangladesh Army officer. He is the former Director General of National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC).[1] Prior to join NTMC, he was a Director (Internal Affairs) at National Security Intelligence. He previously served as the Additional Director General (ADG) of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Ahsan has been sacked from the service on 6 August 2024 on the ground for involving with various heinous crimes including enforced disappearances and murders. He had been replaced as NTMC director general by Major General ASM Ridwanur Rahman.[2][3]
Major General (suspended). Ziaul Ahsan BSP, BPM (Bar), PPM (Bar) | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 December 1970 Jhalokati, East Pakistan, Pakistan |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh |
| Service/ |  Bangladesh Army |
| Years of service | 1991 - 2024 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Service number | BA - 4060 |
| Unit | East Bengal Regiment |
| Commands |
|
| Awards |  Bishishto Seba Padak (BSP) Maroon Parachute Wing |
| Police career | |
| Unit | Rapid Action Battalion |
| Allegiance | Bangladesh |
| Branch |  Bangladesh Police |
| Service years | 2009-2019 |
| Awards |  BPM (bar) PPM (bar) |
Career
editArmy
editAhsan joined Bangladesh Army as a commissioned officer on 21 June 1991.[4] He was a graduate of BMA's 24th long course.[1] He is a commando and skydiver.
Rapid Action Battalion
editAhsan joined RAB-2 as its company commander on March 5, 2009. He was a major then. He was elevated to the rank of lieutenant colonel the same year and took charge as director of RAB's intelligence wing on Aug 27, 2010.[5][4] He was made RAB's additional director general (operations) on December 7, 2013 after being promoted to colonel .[4] He is the only army official who has remained outside the Bangladesh Army for maximum period of time.
Ahsan led a number of operations over last seven-and-a-half years. He played a role in the repatriation of Nur Hossain, main accused in the Narayanganj Seven Murder case from Kolkata.[6] On 29 April 2014, Ahsan ordered Lieutenant Colonel Tareque Sayeed and Major Arif Hossain to kill Narayanganj City Corporation councilor Nazrul Islam who had given the Seven Murders of the Narayanganj contract to Colonel Tareque.[7] Though Ahsan denied any involvement. According to information from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), HuJI, and Ansarullah, along with other extremist organizations, were led by prominent local leaders, including Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana, and notorious criminals like 'Drug Lord' Amin Huda. [8]
Prosecution
editFollowing the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister during the Non-cooperation movement (2024), Ahsan was stripped of his positions and tried to flee the country but was deplaned at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on 6 August and detained at the Dhaka Cantonment.[9]
A Dhaka court placed him on an eight-day remand for interrogation in connection with the death of Shahjahan Ali, a shop employee, during quota reform protests in the capital's New Market area on July 16. The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arfatul Rakib following a request from the investigation officer, Sajib Mia, who initially sought a 10-day remand. During the court proceedings, Ahsan claimed innocence and stated that he had not been near the New Market area during the incident. He also revealed that he had been held at a secret detention facility, "Aynaghar," since his detention. Ahsan asserted that he was not responsible for creating this facility and that no complaints or legal actions had ever been taken against it. He also mentioned that he is suffering from heart issue in court.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b "RAB's Ziaul Ahsan transferred to NSI". New Age. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
- ^ "Reshuffle in top army posts; General Zia sacked". The Business Standard. 2024-08-06. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
- ^ "Brigadier Ziaul Ahsan joins as NSI director". Samakal. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
- ^ a b c "RAB ADG Ziaul Ahsan promoted, made director of National Security Intelligence". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
- ^ "News Details". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
- ^ "Zia new NSI director". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
- ^ Hasan, Rashidul; Hossain, Emran (2015-05-19). "Maj Arif tells of Zia's role". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
- ^ "র্যাবের জিয়া এখন এনএসআইয়ে". bdnews24. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
- ^ "Sacked Bangladeshi intelligence chief 'arrested' at Dhaka Airport". The Express Tribune. 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ "Ex-army officer Ziaul placed on 8-day remand". The Daily Star. 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2024-08-16.