Bangladesh has detained a serving army brigadier general in connection with the alleged extrajudicial killing of local politician Akramul Haque during the country’s controversial 2018 anti‑narcotics campaign launched under former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The arrest marks one of the most significant legal actions yet against officials linked to the crackdown, which rights groups say resulted in hundreds of unlawful deaths.
The move comes after Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) accepted a complaint naming 11 individuals, including Hasina herself, a former police chief, and six serving and retired military officers. Investigators submitted a detailed report outlining alleged involvement in Haque’s killing, prompting the court to order the brigadier general’s detention for further judicial proceedings.
Haque, a councillor from Cox’s Bazar district, was accused by authorities of involvement in the methamphetamine trade. However, rights organisations and his family have long maintained that he was killed in a staged gunfight, a tactic widely criticised during the anti‑drugs campaign. According to watchdog groups, at least 466 people were killed during the operation, many under circumstances suggesting summary executions.
The crackdown, once defended by the Hasina government as necessary to curb drug trafficking, has faced renewed scrutiny since her removal from power in 2024. Investigations into alleged human rights abuses have accelerated, with multiple officials now under legal pressure.
Analysts say the ICT’s decision signals a shift toward accountability in Bangladesh’s security apparatus, though the political implications remain significant. The case could widen as more testimonies and evidence emerge, potentially reshaping public understanding of the 2018 campaign.