Ex-Bangladesh General Accuses Sheikh Hasina of State Killings and Disappearances

In a shocking political development, Retired Lieutenant General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardi, a former senior officer in the Bangladesh Army, has publicly accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of ordering state-sponsored violence, enforced disappearances, and the systematic suppression of political opposition through military force.

His allegations, delivered during a televised interview with Jamuna TV and later reiterated at a press conference following his formal entry into politics through the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), have sent shockwaves through the country’s political and military establishment.

“I Was Told to Bury People Alive”

Sarwardi’s testimony is chilling. “As a soldier, I have witnessed monstrous acts. I received orders to bury people alive and saw 118 charred bodies,” he said. According to Sarwardi, these orders came from the highest levels of government and were part of a broader campaign to neutralize political dissent.

He recounted that in 2013—during a period of escalating protests by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)—he was instructed to carry out enforced disappearances to prevent the public display of dead bodies that could ignite mass unrest. “That was the first time I heard the word ‘disappearance,’” he said.

His statements suggest a deliberate, premeditated state policy of silencing dissent through illegal killings and the manipulation of public perception.

Background: Bangladesh’s Troubled Human Rights Record

Bangladesh, under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government, has long been accused by international watchdogs of using law enforcement agencies like the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and military intelligence units to target journalists, civil society actors, and political opponents.

In 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on several RAB officials over extrajudicial killings and disappearances. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented hundreds of such cases over the past decade. Until now, however, these accusations largely came from victims’ families, activists, or exiled dissidents. The claims rarely reached the level of testimony from someone with Sarwardi’s rank and institutional authority.

The Political Stakes

Sarwardi’s allegations come amid growing public dissatisfaction with Sheikh Hasina’s administration, accused by critics of authoritarian tendencies, electoral manipulation, and silencing of the press. The government’s denial of all wrongdoing has not prevented a slow but growing wave of resistance from within the establishment.

By joining the LDP, a minor party in the opposition alliance, Sarwardi adds weight to the claim that discontent is not limited to street protesters but has seeped into the ranks of retired officials and technocrats.

While the Awami League has not officially responded to Sarwardi’s claims, several pro-government media outlets and commentators have dismissed him as a political opportunist or suggested foreign interference. However, no substantial rebuttal has been offered to the specific claims he made on record.

Why His Testimony Matters

Sarwardi’s credentials are hard to ignore. He served decades in the armed forces, rose to the rank of lieutenant general, and held various command and advisory positions. His testimony breaks a significant silence from within the military, a powerful institution that has historically remained politically neutral in public—even while being implicated in behind-the-scenes operations.

For Bangladesh’s democracy, still struggling under the weight of polarization, his allegations re-open the debate about military complicity in politics, the role of state institutions in repressing dissent, and the long-term consequences of impunity.

The Need for Independent Investigation

Sarwardi’s revelations demand more than public outrage or political point-scoring. If his claims are true, they represent grave violations of human rights and possibly crimes under international law. An independent international investigation, free from the political influence of Dhaka, is now essential to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability.

Bangladesh’s civil society is watching. The international community must decide whether it will remain silent in the face of such allegations or take action to pressure Dhaka to respect basic rights and dignity.

Sarwardi’s decision to come forward is not without risk. His move could polarize public opinion, provoke retaliation, or be buried in political spin. But his voice adds to the growing chorus demanding transparency and justice in Bangladesh—a country that cannot afford to ignore its past if it wishes to protect its future.