Two serving members of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) are set to face proceedings under military law over allegations that they abducted a motorcycle trader in Dhaka and demanded Tk 10 lakh in extortion, following a court order allowing the agency to take them into its custody.
The Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court granted the application on Monday after a hearing, clearing the way for the DGFI to form an inquiry court and take disciplinary action against the two accused under the Army Act.
The accused are Sergeant Al Mamun and Soldier Nuruzzaman, both currently serving in the intelligence agency.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Shariful Ullah filed the application on behalf of the DGFI director general, stating that the two personnel needed to be present in the agency’s custody to facilitate the formation of an inquiry court and the necessary disciplinary proceedings under military law.
The application also pledged that the court would be informed of the progress and outcome of the process.
Omar Faruk Faruqi, a public prosecutor at the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court, said that under the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Army Act, military authorities could apply to take serving personnel accused in criminal cases into their custody for an inquiry or court martial.
However, he stressed that the allegations were serious and that full justice for the victim must be ensured.
Earlier, on 25 October, Mohammadpur Police Station arrested six people, including the two DGFI members, over the alleged abduction of Md Sharif, a motorcycle trader from Shyamoli, and a demand for Tk 10 lakh in extortion.
According to the first information report (FIR), an Ansar member, Sohel Rana, used a prior acquaintance to lure Sharif to a house in Chandrima Model Town, Mohammadpur, on the pretext of buying a motorcycle.
The complaint alleges that Sharif was held and beaten at the house, threatened with death and asked to pay Tk 10 lakh.
As the accused were allegedly taking him away, Sharif sought help from police at a checkpoint in front of the Children’s Hospital. Police personnel detained the group following the incident.
Sharif subsequently filed a case with Mohammadpur Police Station.
The other accused are Ansar member Sohel Rana and private security guards Mukul Gazi, Mahfuzur Rahman and Zia-ul Islam.
Following their arrests, the court ordered all six accused to be sent to prison. The latest order allows the two serving DGFI members to be taken into military custody for proceedings under military law.