Police have arrested former Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique in connection with a crimes against humanity case involving the 2013 killings and torture of Hefazat-e-Islam activists at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, Dhaka.
A team from the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested him on Wednesday afternoon from his residence in the capital’s Gulshan area. The matter was confirmed by Additional Commissioner of DMP’s Detective Branch, Shafiqul Islam.
Earlier on July 27, the prosecution branch of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) submitted formal charges against 41 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, regarding the 2013 operation at Shapla Chattar. The charge sheet was submitted to the Tribunal’s Registrar.
Notable accused individuals named in the case include:
Former Ministers & State Ministers: Former Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, former Information Ministers Hasanul Haq Inu and Hasan Mahmud, former State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Hoque Tuku, former Ministers Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Abdur Razzaque, former Minister Abdul Latif Siddique, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Dr. Dipu Moni, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, and former State Minister Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das.
Political Leaders: Former Joint General Secretaries of Bangladesh Awami League Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AF M Bahauddin Nasim, former Chairman of Jubo League Omar Faroque Chowdhury, and former MP & former Organizational Secretary of Jubo League Salahuddin Mahmud S M Zahid.
Other Prominent Figures & Journalists: Spokesperson of Gonojagaran Mancha Dr. Imran H Sarker, President of Sector Commanders Forum Shahriar Kabir, Managing Director of Ekattor TV Mozammel Babu, and journalist Farzana Rupa.
