Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun has revealed that two factions emerged within the police force, led respectively by former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman and former Special Branch chief Monirul Islam.
He made the disclosure on Tuesday while testifying as a prosecution witness before the three-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumdar.
Mamun gave his statement in a case filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal over crimes against humanity committed during the July–August uprising.
In his testimony, the former IGP said political influence over the police grew significantly after the 2018 election, with some officers gaining prominence and direct connections with senior political leaders.
According to Mamun, these officers frequently held meetings at the residence of then–Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. The secret meetings often continued late into the night.
Those who took part included former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, Detective Branch chief Harunur Rashid, SB’s Monirul Islam, Dhaka DIG Nurul Islam, Additional DIG Biplob Kumar, ASP Kafi, OC Majhar, Forqan Apurbo and several others. Some of them reportedly maintained direct links with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Mamun testified that because of their direct ties with the government’s top echelon, these officers often disregarded the chain of command.
“I wanted them to carry out their responsibilities professionally,” he said. “In reality, the two groups formed within the police force carried out such activities. Their leaders wanted to ensure that their own men received key postings and remained in Dhaka.”
In his deposition, former IGP Mamun also described various detention facilities, including the Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) cell, during his tenure in the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).