Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from power in a student uprising, fled to India through Kurmitola Airport on the afternoon of August 5, 2024. A video of her escape went viral. Everyone is familiar with that video scene. This is the only picture of Hasina’s escape. Who took this picture and who recorded this video? Immediately, who spread the video again on the internet?
Air Intelligence, while investigating the incident and arresting the person who captured the picture, uncovered a network of Indian intelligence agency ‘RAW’ inside the Bangladesh Air Force. Squadron Leader Abdullah Ibn Altaf of the Air Force, who was arrested for his involvement in this network, has already been court-martialed and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is now imprisoned in the high security cell of Kashimpur Jail. Six high-ranking officers of the Air Force – Air Vice Marshal MA Awal Hossain, Air Vice Marshal Zahidul Sayeed, Air Commodore Mohammad Aminul Haque, Group Captain Abdullah Al Farooq, Group Captain Mohammad Shamim and Wing Commander Syed Mohammad – have been identified and sent on compulsory retirement due to their involvement in ‘RAW’.
Bangladeshi newspaper Amar Desh’s investigation has confirmed this report.
When contacted, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director Lt. Col. Sami-ud-Daula Chowdhury told Amar Desh that these six Air Force officers have retired naturally.
According to reliable DGFI sources, Squadron Leader Abdullah Ibn Altaf worked as a shadow recruiter for ‘RAW’ inside the Bangladesh Air Force. After Air Intelligence identified him, he was arrested by the DGFI on August 14, 2024. Two FN-90 and SIGP-229 rifles used by Indian para commandos and various electronic devices including one crore taka in cash were recovered from his personal car. This active agent of the Indian ‘RAW’ was identified when he was caught by an Air Force officer who took a picture of Sheikh Hasina escaping. The picture was taken from the window of the officers’ mess at the Kurmitola Airbase of the Air Force by Flight Lt. Rifat Ashrafi. And the picture was spread on the net by Flight Lt. Tahsif Suri. Both of them have been sent on compulsory retirement. Flight Lt. Rifat Ashrafi is said to be an officer of the administration branch.
Sheikh Hasina’s escape scene can only be seen from one angle of the video. Based on this photo, Air Intelligence’s secret investigation began. It became clear that only one person made this video and that from a distance. By observing the angle of the video, location and camera panning, Air Intelligence was able to identify from which room and who recorded this video scene. When Flight Lt. Rifat Ashrafi was caught, he admitted the truth of the incident and said that he had taken the picture from the window of his office room. It was decided that Sheikh Hasina would fly to Delhi via Kolkata via the Satkhira border in an Air Force C-130-J aircraft. The photo was taken and made viral so that the route of her escape and the fact that she was taking the plane would not become known. The purpose of this was to establish this narrative in advance that Sheikh Hasina was fleeing to Tripura by helicopter.
While conducting forensic analysis of Rifat’s mobile phone containing the photo, the investigation uncovered the connection of Air Intelligence officer Abdullah Ibn Altaf. It is learnt that he is an active agent of ‘RAW’.
Air Intelligence first took Abdullah Ibn Altaf into custody and interrogated him. During their investigation, a snake came out while digging for worms. Realizing a big incident, Air Intelligence brought the matter to the attention of DGFI. DGFI arrested him on August 14, 2024 and started further investigation into the matter. The investigation proved Abdullah Ibn Altaf’s involvement with ‘RAW’. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a court martial. He is currently in Kashimpur Jail. In this regard, Senior Jail Superintendent of that prison, Abdullah Al-Mamun, said that Squadron Leader Abdullah Ibn Altaf is in Kashimpur High Security Cell. He was sentenced to 10 years in a court martial on charges of breach of discipline under the Air Force Act. He was sent to this prison 7/8 months ago. I cannot say more than that.
Based on information provided by Abdullah Ibn Altaf, high-ranking Air Force officers involved in ‘RAW’ were identified. Six officers have already been sent on compulsory retirement.
My Country’s investigation also revealed that not only 6 Air Force officers but also four police officers were permanently suspended in the investigation of this incident. These are the then Deputy Commissioner of Mirpur Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Jasim Uddin Mollah, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Gulshan Division, Rafiqul Islam, Assistant Commissioner of Traffic of Jatrabari Zone, Tanzil Ahmed and Assistant Superintendent of Armed Police Battalion (APBN), Mohammad Rafiqul Islam. All of them had killed people by firing on the student crowd and worked as a supporting force for the Indian intelligence agency ‘RAW’. Their station master was Gulshan Zone Assistant Police Commissioner Iftekhar Mahmud (DB). This police officer was a close friend of Squadron Leader Abdullah Ibne Altaf, an active agent of ‘RAW’ in the Air Force. And their main commander was one of the key figures in the ‘RAW’ network in Bangladesh, army officer Lt. General Mujibur Rahman, known as General Mujib.
The investigation also revealed that RAW gifted Squadron Leader Abdullah Ibn Altaf a brand new Hyundai car for working as a shadow agent for Indian Intelligence. In addition, RAW regularly sent beautiful women to him.
Flight Lt. Rifat and Flight Lt. Tahsif
The investigation found evidence that the video of Sheikh Hasina’s escape, recorded on Flight Lieutenant Rifat Ashrafi’s mobile phone, was posted on Facebook from his timeline by another Air Force officer, Flight Lieutenant Tahsif Suri. When contacted by Amar Desh on Sunday evening, Tahsif initially denied it and said, “What video? I don’t understand what you are talking about.” When he was told in detail that Amar Desh has all the information and evidence of this investigation, he said with a laugh, “Hey brother, many people have earned a lot of money by posting that video. They have also received financial rewards!” However, Tahsif expressed his reluctance to talk in detail about this. He said, “You come, meet us and we will talk face to face. As you know, everyone’s telephone calls are recorded now.” When asked if Air Force officer Rifat had made the video, he said, “Which Rifat? Flight Lieutenant Rifat Ashrafi?” The telephone conversation with Tahsif Suri began with cricket. He has worked as an associate of the Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACCU). He was also in this position in the last BPL.
Police officer Iftekhar Mahmud’s ‘RAW’ involvement and arrest
Iftekhar Mahmud, Assistant Commissioner (DB) of Gulshan Zone of Police, worked as the station master of the Indian intelligence agency ‘RAW’. He was a close friend of Squadron Leader Abdullah Ibne Altaf.
On August 5, 2024, Iftekhar, along with weapons, was hiding in the Falcon Tower, the residence of the Air Force, with the help of Abdullah Ibn Altaf. Among them, Abdullah Ibn Altaf’s ‘RAW’ connection was leaked and he was arrested. Police officer Iftekhar was arrested on the same connection. His arrest was secret. His wife Saba Tahsin, unable to find any trace of her husband, filed an application with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner regarding Iftekhar’s disappearance.
She wrote in the application: Iftekhar Mahmud had an issued weapon. From August 6 to 10 of last year, Iftekhar was sheltering with an Air Force officer friend in Falcon Tower with weapons. Then he returned home on August 11. He left his weapon in Iftekhar’s custody. When the situation normalized somewhat, he was called for the weapon. Later, it was learned that he was under house arrest. On August 17, a GD was filed with Tejgaon Police Station regarding the issued weapon. Iftekhar left his home at 10:30 a.m. on August 22 after receiving a call. The driver dropped him off at the Air Force Headquarters, where he was received and taken inside. He has not been seen since.
When contacted, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s office was informed that Iftekhar was arrested on September 30 last year. Dhaka Metropolitan Deputy Police Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Talibur Rahman said that after his arrest, he has been detained in the high security cell of Kashimpur Jail. He has been temporarily suspended from the police force by the Home Ministry.
The secret of Hasina’s escape video
’36 July 2024′. The message of the success of the mass uprising spread in the rays of the morning sun. The slogan of all the processions was the same – Remove the dictatorship. Farewell the fascist government. The whole country was agitated at that time, demanding the removal of the dictatorial ruler Sheikh Hasina at once. The capital Dhaka was shaken by the spontaneous procession of the people. Millions of protestors were leaving their homes and coming out from all over the city. Red and green flags were tied to their foreheads. They raised their fists and announced in a firm voice, ‘Listen, moneylenders, we are many!’ The people, oppressed by the past 15 years of misrule, have risen with the determination to exercise their voting rights and oust the fascist government. The beloved motherland was warmed by the rays of the sun of ’36 July’, spreading the light that the people are winning in this movement.
As the afternoon wore on, the entire nation witnessed an unimaginable event. The helicopter carrying Sheikh Hasina flew from the trade fair grounds adjacent to the China Friendship Conference Center to the Kurmitola Airport. She then fled to Delhi. The airport, which was once her safe haven, became her secret escape route on the afternoon of August 5. The video of this silent but shocking incident went viral on social media within a short time. The news across the world’s top news media was the same – Sheikh Hasina had fled!
Hasina’s escape scene is only visible from one angle. This makes it clear that this video was made by only one person and that from a distance, hiding himself, hiding. A long-term investigation by Amar Desh reveals that the person who recorded this video from a distance on his own mobile phone was Air Force officer Flight Lieutenant Rifat Ashrafi himself. That secluded place at Kurmitola Airport was surrounded by security.
There was no way for anyone or anything outside to enter there. The investigation found conclusive evidence that Sheikh Hasina’s escape scene was recorded on a mobile phone from the officer’s mess of the nearby Kurmitola Airbase. By observing the angle, position and panning of the camera, the investigation team confirmed from which room and who recorded the entire video scene. He was arrested. As the investigation progressed, more shocking information came to light. By forensically analyzing the mobile phone of the detained Air Force officer, it was found that another officer, Squadron Leader Abdullah Ibn Altaf, was involved as a shadow agent of ‘RAW’ in the Air Force. He had been working as an agent of the Indian intelligence agency ‘RAW’ for a long time.
This investigation revealed more sensational information that several high-ranking officials of the Air Force are involved in the ‘RAW’ network.
This incident has made it clear that the black hand of foreign intelligence forces has also entered the military structure of Bangladesh. This is a terrible warning for the sovereignty of not only one force, but also the entire country.
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