War crimes: Ex-NSI official sent to jail

The International Crimes Tribunal -1 today sent former additional inspector general of police to jail in a case filed for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.

Police yesterday arrested Oahidul Haque, 69, from Gulshan area in the capital hours after the ICT-1 issued an arrest warrant against him in the case following a petition moved by Prosecutor Tureen Afroz..

A two-member tribunal led by Justice Amir Hossain sent Oahidul Haque to jail after he was produced before the court around 11:30am today, Tureen Afroz told The Daily Star.

The tribunal also asked the prosecution to submit report on May 10 on the progress over the investigation of the case, she added.

Oahidul was allegedly involved in the killing of around 500 to 600 people near Rangpur cantonment on March 28, 1971.

He is the second man who, being a Bangalee, worked for the Pakistan army and is now arrested after being faced with war crime charges. Muhamed Shahidullah from Comilla, a former Bangalee army official who allegedly worked for the Pakistan army, is facing similar charges.

In her petition, Tureen said investigation against Oahidul started on December 5, 2016, and the investigation officer has already found evidence of his involvement in crimes committed in Rangpur.

He was trying to influence potential witnesses of the case, which was why he needed to be arrested for proper investigation, Tureen said, adding that the tribunal allowed her prayer.

According to the investigation agency and prosecution of International Crimes Tribunal-1, Oahidul, of Chandibardi village under Madaripur Sadar Upazila, joined Pakistan army in October, 1966.

He was transferred to Rangpur cantonment in March 1970 as a captain. On March 28, 1971, as the lone Bangalee army officer, he took part in the killing of around 500 to 600 people near the cantonment, Motiur Rahman, the investigation officer of the case, said yesterday.

He was transferred to Pakistan on March 30, 1971 and returned to Bangladesh and joined the army in 1974.

He was later sent into “forced retirement” as many were aware of his war crimes, said Motiur.

After the change in the political climate in August 1975, he joined the police force as assistant superintendent in October 1976, Motiur said.

Oahidul went on to become superintendent of police of Noakhali in 1982, and then police commissioner of Chittagong in 1988. He was director of NSI from 1991 to 1996 and its acting director general from 1996 to 1997.

He was the director general of the department of immigration and passport from 1997 and reappointed in 2002. He went into retirement in October 2005 as additional inspector general of police.