FROM PAGE 12

Faruqi alleged that shots were fired at protesters on Khaled’s orders.

He also questioned Khaled’s role during the 2007–08 army-backed caretaker rule, accusing him of detaining and torturing political leaders and businesspeople.

Faruqi further alleged Khaled’s involvement in enforced disappearances and torture at secret detention facilities known as “Aynaghar”, politicising the DGFI, and playing a role in evicting former BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia from her cantonment residence.

Defence counsel Nazrul Islam Khan sought bail, arguing Khaled had no involvement in the killing.

Speaking in court, Khaled denied the allegations, saying he had no authority during the July 2024 protests and was living as a civilian in DOHS at the time.

“I was in favour of the July uprising,” Khaled told the court.

He also defended his past role, claiming no enforced disappearances took place during his tenure and that he had cooperated with relevant commissions investigating such allegations.

Khaled further said that he joined the Forces Signal Intelligence Bureau of the DGFI in 2007, which primarily handled communications, and later took over broader responsibilities within the agency.

“I personally called the judges in all the cases in which the Prime Minister [Tarique Rahman] was granted bail at that time. Clearances were given from our side in each of those instances,” he said.

After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail plea and granted a five-day remand for interrogation.

Khaled served as a director of DGFI from December 2007 to December 2010 and as the director general from June 2011 to March 2013.

Detective Branch officials said he is being questioned over multiple allegations, including enforced disappearances, illegal detention facilities, surveillance of opposition figures, and financial irregularities linked to the Jolshiri housing project.

The disappearance of BNP leader Chowdhury Alam during Khaled’s tenure is also under scrutiny.

DB earlier arrested another key figure of the caretaker government, Lt Gen (retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury, in a separate case involving human trafficking and document forgery.

Though arrested in different cases, intelligence sources said both are being interrogated over their roles during the 2007-08 caretaker period.

DB chief Shafiqul Islam told The Daily Star that the two are being questioned over the cases against them, while other allegations are also being examined.