Ishtiak Ahmed, former chief of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit and an additional superintendent of police, has been arrested and sent to jail over allegations that he used drone surveillance to assist in identifying and targeting student-led gatherings during the July uprising in Dhaka.

The arrest was made on Sunday in Rangamati by a joint team comprising members of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) investigation agency and the police. The tribunal's prosecutor, Abdullah Al Noman, confirmed the development on Tuesday, April 29.

According to the prosecution, Ishtiak Ahmed allegedly deployed drones across several areas of Dhaka to locate and monitor the presence of students and civilians participating in protest activities during the political unrest in July. The gathered surveillance data was reportedly passed on to members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), other law enforcement agencies, and political operatives affiliated with the ruling party.

The information is believed to have been used to carry out targeted acts of violence, including the killing and torture of demonstrators. Prosecutor Abdullah Al Noman stated that there are specific and credible accusations against Ishtiak Ahmed regarding his involvement in these human rights violations. A warrant for his arrest had previously been issued in connection with the case.

Following his apprehension in Rangamati, Ishtiak was produced before the tribunal, where the presiding judge ordered that he be sent to jail. The case marks a rare instance of a senior police officer facing legal action for alleged misconduct involving technology-based surveillance during a time of political upheaval. Investigations into his role are ongoing under the jurisdiction of the International Crimes Tribunal.