The law enforcers at Netrakona yesterday arrested two war crimes accused for their alleged involvement in atrocities in the district during the 1971 Liberation War.
The arrests were made only hours after the International Crimes Tribunal 1 issued warrants against them.
Accused in a war crimes case, Obaidul Huq alias Abu Taher and Ataur Rahman alias Noni were arrested from separate locations of the town around 1pm. Md Zakir Hossain Khan, the district police superintendent, said the law men arrested the duo quickly since they had been under surveillance.
The investigation officer of the case also confirmed the arrests saying that they had been under watch when they started the probe.
Designated prosecutor Sabina Yasmin said they avoided media before the arrest since in the recent times some suspects had fled after the issuance of arrest warrants.
She said both were named in the list of razakars prepared by the district administration. However, witnesses claimed that one of them was a razakar commander.
Noni was involved with Muslim League in 1971 while Taher is the son of Monjurul Huq, then a leader of
Nezam-e-Islam – one of the Islamist parties that opposed the birth of Bangladesh.
They were involved in the killing of over 500 unarmed civilians, arson attacks and looting in different locations of Netrakona, according to the investigation agency members who are now working at field level.
The warrants were issued by the tribunal from its chamber yesterday morning following a prosecution petition. It also asked the law enforcers to produce the duo before it immediately after their arrest.
Moreover, the tribunal asked the investigation agency to submit a progress report of the case by September 4.
There was no scheduled case at the tribunal 1 yesterday.
Another designated prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman submitted the petition, mentioning that the duo, who are very influential in the locality, might flee to avoid trial and try to influence the witnesses.