Bangladesh police arrest former minister on war crime charges

Bangladesh police today arrested a former Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmaker accused of crimes against humanity during the country's 1971 'Liberation War', hours after a special tribunal issued an arrest warrant against him.

Abdul Alim, 80, who was a cabinet minister in the government of former president Ziaur Rahman, was arrested from his house in northwestern Joypurhat district.

Earlier in the day, the three-member International Crimes Tribunal had issued an arrest warrant against Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader and asked him to appear before court in 24 hours.

"A police officer read out the tribunal's warrant in presence of a magistrate as Alim visibly awaited it at his Thana road residence" in northwestern Joypurhat district, a journalist who witnessed the process told PTI by phone.

"We will produce him before the tribunal at 10am tomorrow in line with the order," police superintendent Mozammel Haque told newsmen.

Joypurhat police earlier today said they cordoned off his residence after the tribunal issued arrest warrant.

He was put under police surveillance since last March 29 in 2010 as per directives of the higher authorities.

The tribunal issued the arrest warrant against 80-year old Alim in response to an application by the prosecution lawyers.

The prosecutors filed the petition on March 23, saying Alim masterminded the killing of more than 10,000 innocent people siding with the Pakistani troops.

Bangladesh last year constituted a high-powered three-member International Crimes Tribunal headed by a high court judge along with a special investigation agency and a prosecution cell in line with the election pledges of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League to bring the war criminals to justice.

So far six high-profile suspects are in jail to face the charges of crimes against humanity while the lone detainee beyond the Jamaat leaders is Salahuddin Qader Chowdhury, a stalwart of ex-premier Khaleda Zia's main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party's.

The development came days after reports said that three British lawyers, with one being the counsel of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, are expected to defend five of the prime suspects of "crimes against humanity".