Ex-MP Latif Siddique arrested following ICT warrant in Shapla Chattar case
Earlier in the day, Latif said he would surrender before the tribunal if not arrested.
Highlights:
- DB arrests former minister Abdul Latif Siddique from Gulshan
- Held on ICT warrant over 2013 Shapla Chattar crackdown
- ICT took cognisance of charges against Sheikh Hasina and 40 others on 27 July
- Investigation identified 58 deaths linked to the 5 May 2013 violence
Police on Wednesday (29 July) arrested former minister Abdul Latif Siddique in connection with a crimes against humanity case over the 2013 crackdown on a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka's Motijheel.
Members of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) arrested him from his residence in the capital's Gulshan area at around 6pm on a warrant issued by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), said DB Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam.
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Hours before his arrest, Latif Siddique had said he would surrender before the ICT next Sunday or Monday if police did not arrest him first.
He made the remarks after appearing before a Dhaka court in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Shahbagh Police Station.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Latif Siddique said he had been informed that morning that the ICT had issued an arrest warrant against him in the Shapla Chattar case.
"I came to court because I did not want anyone to think I had gone into hiding," he said.
"If the police do not arrest me, I will surrender before the court next Sunday or Monday. If the police arrest me before then, that is a different matter."
He also said he was fully prepared for detention, adding that he had kept a bag containing a notebook and pen in his car.
On 27 July, ICT-2 took cognisance of charges filed against ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Latif Siddique and 39 others over killings during the 5 May 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar.
The tribunal also issued arrest warrants for the absconding accused, including Hasina, and ordered that those already in custody in other cases be produced before it.
According to the prosecution, the tribunal's investigation agency identified 58 people who were killed in violence surrounding the Hefazat gathering across four locations. Of them, 32 were killed in Dhaka, 20 in Narayanganj, five in Chattogram and one in Cumilla.
Prosecutors brought charges against Hasina and 40 others, alleging crimes against humanity in connection with the deadly 5 May 2013 crackdown.
The tribunal also ordered 10 accused already in custody in separate cases, including Dipu Moni, Shamsul Haque Tuku, Ziaul Ahsan, former inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Haque, former deputy inspector general Molla Nazrul Islam, Shahriar Kabir, former DIG Abdul Jalil Mondal, journalist Farzana Rupa, Mozammel Haque Babu and former food minister Abdur Razzaque, to be produced before it on 16 August.
Arrest warrants were issued against the remaining 31 accused who are currently absconding.
