Crimes Against Humanity: Former top NSI official arrested

Police yesterday arrested a former additional inspector general of police hours after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 issued an arrest warrant in a case filed against him for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War.

Oahidul Haque, 69, also former acting director general of National Security Intelligence (NSI), was arrested from Gulshan area in the capital at around 1:45pm, said Abu Bakar Siddique, officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station.

Earlier, the two-member tribunal, led by Justice Amir Hossain, issued the arrest warrant against Oahidul, also a former Pakistan army officer, following a petition moved by Prosecutor Tureen Afroz.

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

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.

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.

He will be produced before the tribunal today, Tureen said.