‘War criminal’ held in Shariatpur

Shariatpur police on Sunday night arrested a war crimes suspect, hours after a war crimes tribunal issued arrest warrant against him for his alleged involvement in war-times crimes committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

Suliman Mollah, 82, an alleged organiser of Sariatpur Peace Committee and Razakar Bahini, two anti-liberation organisations, was arrested from his house in the district headquarters around 5:30pm, Saifullah Al Mamun, the superintendent of Shariatpur police, told The Daily Star.

The arrestee would be produced before the tribunal tomorrow (Monday), the SP added.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on today issued the arrest warrant against two war crimes suspects from Shariatpur including Suliman following a prosecution petition. Prosecution declined to give the name of another suspect as he may go into hiding if his name was published in media.

Prosecutor Hrishikesh Saha told this correspondent that they have filed the petition as the investigator found “evidence” of their “involvement” in crimes like genocide and crimes against humanity committed in district in 1971.

Hrishikesh said investigation against the duo started in April this year and they sought their arrest as they can hinder the probe and temper the witnesses of the incident.

He said Suliman was a leader of Nezam-e-Islami, an anti-liberation political party, in Shariatpur and contested the 1970’s election as a candidate of the party, but defeated.

Another suspect was a member of Razakar Bahini in Shariatpur, he added.