Rokan's Journal

By Brig Gen (retd) HRM Rokan Uddin, psc

The history of every nation is shaped not only by its victories but also by its betrayals. Bangladesh is no different. Our beloved armed forces, born out of sacrifice, discipline, and patriotism, have been our shield in war and our pride in peace. Yet, there have been dark chapters where a handful of officers, intoxicated by power and driven by selfish ambition, betrayed their oath, dishonored their uniform, and turned against the very people they swore to protect. These betrayals, committed during the long years of fascism, were not mere lapses in judgment. They were grave crimes—crimes against humanity, crimes against democracy, and crimes that have left permanent scars on the image of the armed forces.

For too long, these individuals have roamed free, some even attempting to wash their hands clean in the river of forgetfulness. For too long, society has allowed compromises, excuses, and half-hearted attempts at justice. But the time for leniency has ended. The time for compromise has expired. Enough is enough. Those responsible must be held accountable, and their trials must take place under the impartial scrutiny of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

There will be voices arguing that we can deal with these criminals at home, through our courts and tribunals. But history has shown us otherwise. Our domestic mechanisms have too often been entangled in political calculations, backroom deals, and loopholes that protect the powerful. When justice becomes selective, delayed, or manipulated, it ceases to be justice at all.

The crimes committed under the banner of fascism were not local disputes. They were crimes of international dimension—gross violations of human rights, systemic abuse of power, and deliberate acts that brought shame upon our nation. These are precisely the kinds of crimes the ICC was created to address. The world must see that Bangladesh will not sweep such crimes under the carpet; we will expose them before the global conscience.

An ICC trial would also silence the skeptics who may claim that any local proceedings are biased or politically motivated. It will demonstrate that Bangladesh seeks truth, not vengeance, justice, not revenge. It will reaffirm our nation’s moral standing in the eyes of the world.

The Bangladesh Armed Forces have earned respect at home and abroad through professionalism, sacrifice, and service. From the bloody fields of 1971 to UN peacekeeping missions in faraway lands, our soldiers have carried the flag of Bangladesh with dignity. But when a small group of officers sold their honor for personal gain, they did not just betray their country, they betrayed every soldier who had shed blood for the nation.

How can we look into the eyes of our martyrs’ families while criminals in uniform walk freely? How can we inspire the young officers of tomorrow while leaving the sins of yesterday unpunished? True honor is not restored by denial or silence. It is restored by courage to confront our own failings, clean our own house, and show the world that our armed forces stand for justice, not impunity.

By holding the guilt accountable, we send a powerful message to every rank and file: the uniform is sacred. It is not a license for crime. It is not a shield for treachery. And it will never again be allowed to serve as a mask for fascism.

Every crime unpunished becomes an invitation for repetition. Every betrayal ignored becomes an encouragement for the next betrayal. The fascist years should have taught us this bitter lesson: when crimes are ignored in the name of “political settlement” or “institutional stability,” they do not disappear. They return—stronger, darker, and more destructive.

Those who still walk freely today, those who still believe they can outmaneuver justice through influence, wealth, or connections, must be reminded: there will be no safe harbor for you. No loophole will protect you. No shield will cover you. Whether it takes months or years, you will be brought before the law. And when you stand there, the verdict will not just be a punishment for your crimes, it will be a warning for all future traitors.

Justice is not only about punishing the guilty; it is about teaching the future. Our young officers, our cadets in training, our soldiers in the field, they must learn that betrayal of the nation will never be tolerated. They must know that the honor of the armed forces is greater than the ambitions of any individual.

If we fail to deliver justice now, what prevents another ambitious officer in the future from following the same path of corruption and collusion? What prevents another cabal from dragging our armed forces into the swamp of dishonor? This is why justice today is not merely about the past. It is about protecting the future.

The time for excuses has ended. The time for hesitation is over. We must act with firm resolve. The guilty must face trial before the ICC. Their crimes must be exposed, their networks dismantled, and their punishments delivered. This is not vengeance; this is purification. This is not revenge; this is restoration.

Bangladesh cannot afford another chapter of betrayal in its military history. Our people cannot tolerate another mockery of their sacrifices. Our soldiers cannot bear another insult to their sacred duty.

Let the world hear our voices: no more compromise, no more delay, no more games with the armed forces. Justice will be done. The honor of our soldiers will be restored. And the lesson will be carved in stone—that the Bangladesh Armed Forces belong to the nation, not to the ambitions of traitors.

Enough is enough.