Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s security adviser accused of using state security to abduct three men in business dispute.
The most senior security and defence figure in Bangladesh has been accused of using military intelligence agents to abduct and interrogate people to settle a business dispute involving his wife.
The allegations have been made against Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s security adviser who has effective control over the country’s armed forces and intelligence agencies.
General Siddique is considered one of the most influential members of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government and a very close personal ally; his brother is married to the Prime Minister’s sister, Sheikh Rehana. His niece is the UK Labour member of parliament, Tulip Siddique.
The claims against General Siddique are being made by a former army officer and one-time business associate, Colonel Shahid Uddin Khan who is currently living in self-exile in the United Kingdom.
Khan claims that three employees of his business in the capital city Dhaka were abducted by what appeared to be state security officers in January.
The families of the missing men have all confirmed to Al Jazeera that they have not been seen or heard from since they were first taken, over twelve weeks ago.
Al Jazeera has also obtained documents that appear to confirm Khan’s allegations.
Khan alleges that nine months earlier, the same three men – along with another employee – were picked up from his Dhaka offices and secretly held at the military intelligence agency, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).
That incident happened one day after Khan wound up a company jointly owned by the security chief’s wife, Shaheen Siddique, who was its chairperson.
The firm, Prochhya Ltd, had been trading since 2009 and was involved in several profitable land deals.
Prochhya’s company registration reveals that not only was General Siddique’s wife a director but so was his brother, Zamal Shafi (until 2012) and his two daughters Noorin Tasmia and Bushra, both of whom live in the UK.
