Former Chief of Army Staff Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan labeled former Army officer Ziaul Ahsan, who is currently under arrest in a crimes against humanity case, a 'serial killer' during his testimony before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), reports bdnews24.com.
Iqbal made the remark while responding to cross-examination at the ICT-1, where he also said he had opposed Ziaul's promotion for that very reason.
Defence lawyer Aminul Ghani Titu cross-examined him, along with Ziaul's sister Naznin Nahar, who represented her brother at the tribunal.
Ziaul was brought to the tribunal on Wednesday morning.
The tribunal is led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
The other member of the tribunal was sessions judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
Replying to a question, Iqbal said he opposed Ziaul's promotion despite most of the members of the promotion board recommending it.
The defence lawyer then asked the former Army officer if he knew the number of times Ziaul was promoted during his time in office from 2012 to 2015.
Iqbal clarified only one promotion was granted, elevating the officer from lieutenant colonel to colonel.
He said officials on the promotion board supported Ziaul's promotion to secure privileges in the days to come.
In an attempt to block the promotion, Iqbal said he told the then Maj Gen Momen that he was not in favour of the promotion, instructing the officer to raise the point at the board meeting.
The trick did not work as the majority of the board members certified Ziaul as a "good officer", he said.
Iqbal said a promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel requires completing Staff College, which Ziaul never did.
"Moreover, he never led a battalion as a lieutenant colonel. Therefore, he was not eligible for promotion to the rank of colonel," he said.
Iqbal alleged Momen was reassigned as ambassador to Bahrain and removed from his military post soon after he raised objections regarding Ziaul's promotion.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam and Prosecutor Mizanul Islam were present along with other members of the prosecution panel during the cross-examination.
