Former minister Latif Siddique arrested over Shapla Chattar case

Former minister Abdul Latif Siddique has been arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) in a crimes against humanity case over the killings at the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, Dhaka in May 2013.

He was arrested from his residence in Gulshan at around 6:00pm Wednesday. 

Confirming the arrest to The Daily Waadaa, DB Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said, "Latif Siddique has been arrested in a case before the International Crimes Tribunal. There was an arrest warrant against him. That is why he has been arrested."

Earlier this morning, while appearing before the court of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana, Latif Siddique said that he intended to surrender in the case. 

He said that if he was not arrested, he would surrender before the International Crimes Tribunal and seek bail on Sunday or Monday next week.

Latif Siddique, who had been expelled from the Awami League in 2014 over comments he made regarding Hajj pilgrimmage, was arrested in August last year following the July uprising from an event at the Dhaka Reporters Unity. 

Police later named him as an accused in a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act. 

He was released on bail several months later. 

However, the case is still pending, and he is required to appear before the court.

On July 27, the prosecution submitted formal charges against 41 people, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Latif Siddique, in connection with the Shapla Chattar crackdown.

The three-member bench of ICT-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, issued the orders on Monday.

Prosecutor Moynul Karim said the investigation had uncovered sufficient evidence against the accused.

According to the prosecution, the investigation officer submitted the inquiry report to the Office of the Chief Prosecutor after a lengthy investigation. The prosecution filed the formal charges after reviewing and verifying the evidence and findings contained in the report.

The investigation found that 58 people were killed in four locations across the country in connection with the Hefazat-e-Islam rally on 5 May 2013.

According to the investigation report, the identities of all 58 victims have been established, including 32 in Dhaka, 20 in Narayanganj, five in Chattogram and one in Cumilla.