War crime suspect held in Bagerhat

Police yesterday arrested war crimes accused Abdul Ali Mollah of Bagerhat hours after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 issued warrant against him in a case filed for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.

Abdul Ali, 65, was arrested from his house at Udankhali village under Kachua Police Station in the district in the evening, Prosecutor Sabina Yesmin Khan Munni told The Daily Star last night.

He will be produced before the tribunal today, she added.

Ali is one of the 14 accused of the case and the tribunal earlier issued arrest warrant against 13 others.

The 13 accused are Khan Ashraf Ali, Khan Akram Hossain, Sultan Ali Khan, Rustam Ali Mollah, Edris Ali Mollah, Moksed Ali Didar, Sheikh Mohammad Ukil Uddin, Sheikh Edris Ali, Rafiqul Islam alias Babul, Moniruzzaman Hawlader, Hashem Ali Sheikh, Azhar Ali Sikder and Mokbul Mollah. Of them, Akram, Erdis Ali Mollah, Ukil Uddin, Mokbul Mollah and Abdul Ali are in custody while the rest are absconding.

Tribunal's investigation agency on January 22 said to have found evidence against the 14 over their alleged involvement in crimes committed during the Liberation War. The agency on the same day handed over the probe report and other documents to the Chief Prosecutor Office of the tribunal.