4 war crimes accused arrested

Police today arrested four persons from Khulna and Bagerhat districts for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

They were arrested after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 today issued arrest warrant against 13 people.

The arrestees are identified as Khan Akram Hossain, 60, of Teligati village and Sheikh Mohammad Ukil Uddin, 82 of Capri village under Morelganj Upazila, Edris Ali Mollah, 64, of Jessoredi village and Mokbul Mollah, 79, of Udankhali village under Kachua upazila in Bagerhat.

“Police arrested Akram from Puran Bazar area of Bagerhat town while Edris and Mokbul were arrested from their respective villages,” Goutam Kumar Biswas, additional superintendent of Bagerhat, told our local correspondent.

Ukil Uddin was arrested from Labanchara area in Khulna Sadar upazila, taking assistance from Khulna Metropolitan Police, he said.

Confirming their arrest, Sabina Yesmin Khan Munni, the conducting prosecutor of the case, said police were trying to arrest the rest.

Earlier in the day, the three-member tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque with members Justice Md Shahinur Islam and Justice Md Shohrowardi issued the arrest warrant following a petition moved by Prosecutor Sabina Yesmin.

Sabina Yesmin told the tribunal that investigation in the case began on June 4 last year and the investigation officer has already found their “involvement” in crimes including murder and rape committed in the district in 1971.

The accused are influential persons of their localities and they were “intimidating” the probable prosecution witnesses and victims of the case, Munni also said adding that the accused are needed to be detained and kept in jail for the sake of “proper investigation.”

The accused were involved with Muslim League and they joined Razakar Bahini during the Liberation War, she told The Daily Star.

The tribunal fixed August 22 for passing next order in the case.