‘I was tortured at Cantonment Police Station’, Editor Mahmudur Rahman testifies

He says “fascism” was created through meticulous planning, in which a foreign power was involved

Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman has testified in a tribunal against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others in a case involving crimes against humanity.

He said he was tortured at the Cantonment Police Station during the Awami League government's tenure.

He gave his testimony on Monday before a three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, in the morning session, and a two-member bench in the afternoon.

The Amar Desh editor appeared as the 46th witness. His testimony, which lasted until 4pm, will continue on Tuesday, followed by cross-examination.

During the testimony, he said: "The fascism of the Awami League was created through meticulous planning, and a foreign power was involved with Bangladeshi politicians."

In this context, he quoted from the memoir The Coalition Years by the late Indian president Pranab Mukherjee.

Mahmudur said Mukherjee described his 2008 conversation in Delhi with former Army chief Moeen U Ahmed. At the time, Mukherjee was India's foreign minister. A deal was made with Moeen that if Hasina was made the prime minister by winning the election, the then-army chief would be guaranteed his job, be financially rewarded, and be given a safe exit.

"We all remember that the election was held in December of that year. This means the election result was decided in Delhi 10 months before the polls, and according to this plan, the Awami League achieved a landslide victory.”

"Gen Moeen and the DGFI had a direct role in this election outcome. Brig Sheikh Mamun Khaled, who was then working in the DGFI, attempted to split the BNP through the DGFI as part of this election mechanism and arranged for the Awami League's victory through rigging. He was later promoted to DGFI chief and received a promotion to the rank of lieutenant general," he added.