Bosnian War's Unofficial Power Broker Dies in Silence

Halid "Hadžija" Čengić, a powerful figure during the Bosnian War, died recently in Sarajevo. His passing was marked by an unexpected silence from Bosnian institutions and political parties. Only a brief news item and a family obituary were released. The Party of Democratic Action (SDA), which he helped establish, did not react. The Islamic Community of BiH, whose agenda he reportedly advanced, also remained quiet. Many veterans' associations and retired officers, who once sought his approval for career advancements, did not comment either.

Čengić was the head of the Main Logistics Center (GLOC) of the Army of BiH (ABiH). He was seen as the second or third most influential person in Bosnia's defense, after Alija Izetbegović. His son, Hasan Čengić, also held significant sway. Halid Čengić was central to the "Islamization" of the ABiH. He controlled hundreds of millions of marks. He wielded immense unofficial power, removing ministers, appointing generals, and directing many processes.

He and his son Hasan were instrumental in training and appointing Rasim Delić to lead the Army. Many officers needed to visit Čengić in Visoko to get his permission for promotions. Later in his life, Čengić was primarily visited by Iranian diplomats and politicians. For instance, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian visited Čengić in Sarajevo in 2022.

Čengić established a training camp in Dobrinja, near Visoko. This camp was for young soldiers and had military instructors from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Another Iranian-controlled training unit, "Delta," operated in Sarajevo.

His power was evident when he challenged Hamdija Hadžihasanović, who became BiH's Minister of Defense in late 1993. Hadžihasanović tried to bring GLOC under his ministry's control. Čengić openly questioned Hadžihasanović's authority. Hadžihasanović later found that Hasan Čengić was effectively the *real* Minister of Defense during a visit to Iran. Hadžihasanović refused to sign a treaty that referred to Bosnia and Herzegovina as an "Islamic Republic." He resigned after realizing his position was merely decorative and after observing the disorganization within GLOC.

Čengić was also involved in the ill-fated project to build an airport in Visoko during the war. This project involved forcibly taking private land, much of it from local Serbs, and commandeering machinery. The project faced tragedy when an explosion killed four workers, and an investigation by Sarajevo police was quickly aborted due to intimidation.

After the Dayton Accords, Čengić's role in the new military system diminished. This was reportedly due to demands from American officials, who also blacklisted his son, Hasan. Slobodan Milošević used an interview Čengić gave during the war as evidence at the Hague Tribunal, claiming it supported the idea that Serbs in Foča had to defend themselves against plans by the SDA and the Čengićs.

Čengić's family network continued to be influential. His granddaughter, Nađa Lutvikadić, a department head at BH Telecom, reportedly used her family's power to threaten her director. She reminded him who was responsible for his appointment. This refers to the Čengić family's role in educating many young people from "good Muslim families" in Malaysia, who later returned to influential positions in business, diplomacy, and politics.

There is speculation that Hasan Čengić, with his father Halid's knowledge, initiated the formation of the "People and Justice" (Narod i pravda) party eight or nine years ago. This move allegedly came after Hasan's influence waned within the SDA and after he was sidelined by Reis-ul-ulema Husein Kavazović in the Islamic Community of BiH. This might explain the general silence surrounding Halid Čengić's death within the Bosnian political and religious mainstream.