Former RAB official ‘returns’ after 18 months
Although the former military official has no wounds on his body, his speech has become incoherent
Lieutenant Colonel (sacked) Hasinur Rahman, a former commanding officer of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), has returned home after his disappearance 18 months ago.
Sub-Inspector Monirul Islam of the Pallabi police station confirmed the matter to The Business Standard.
According to his family members, Hasinur had been allegedly picked by 14-15 plainclothes men claiming to be members of the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Denying the allegation, DB Additional Commissioner Abdul Baten said, "No one from the Detective Branch detained him. The allegation is bogus."
His return raises a few questions: Where was he? Who picked up the former military officer and why?
"Our team went to his house and spoke to him to figure out what happened," Sub-Inspector Monirul said.
Quoting the family, he said Hasinul was okay, but his speech had become incoherent.
Hasinur's wife Shamima Akhter said he returned home at around 11:45pm on Friday.
"He has no wounds on his body, but his speech is incoherent. So, we are not troubling him with any questions at the moment." Shamima also said he had high blood pressure, and that he would be taken to a doctor.
Earlier on the night of August 8, 2018, Hasinur Rahman was picked whisked away in a microbus near his home in Mirpur DOHS, Dhaka.
His wife Shamima alleged that his alleged abductors were wearing jackets with "DB" inscribed on them. The next day, she filed a general diary (GD) with the Pallabi police station.
Hasinur had also served in the Border Guards Bangladesh. He was sacked from the Bangladesh Army for his alleged ties with militants.
He was detached to the Army Training and Doctrine Command when he lost his job after being charged with sedition. However his family members deny the allegations, claiming he was an honest and patriotic officer who fell victim to a conspiracy.
Previously in 2017, many other people including a university teacher and a former ambassador, had gone missing for several days and later dropped off by unknown people.
Upon returning, none of the victims could tell where they had been and who had picked them up.