Fugitive death row convict held in city

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested KM Aminul Haque alias Rajab Ali (69), a fugitive convict who was sentenced to death for his crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation in 1971.

Director of RAB commander Khandaker Al Moin disclosed it to the media at the RAB's Karwan Bazar media centre on Sunday in the capital.

He said that RAB arrested him during a raid in the Kalabagan area in the city on Saturday night.

He said that the arrestee went hiding for long time.

Mr Moin said that Rajab Ali was involved with killing of innocent people in Kishoreganj, Bairab, Habiganj and Brahmanbaria areas during the Liberation War.

He assisted the Pakistani occupation forces and committed crimes against humanity during the country's struggle to freedom in 1971.

The RAB official further said that Rajab went to a country in Middle East in 1982.

He also visited Pakistan several times.

He returned to Dhaka in 1997 and went hiding in 2014 following complaints against him with International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka.

Seven charges on crimes against humanity were brought against him at the ICT on November 5, 2014.

Charge sheet was submitted against him on December 27, 2015.

The ICT issued arrest warrant against him on May 17, 2016 and awarded him death sentence/penalty on November 5, 2018.

The RAB official further said that the government has banned his two books 'Ami Al Badr Bolche' and Dui Polashi, Dui Mir Jafar' where he has negatively presented Bangabandhu, Liberation War and tragic incident on 15th August 1975.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com