Former NSI DG arrested in case over crimes against humanity

A former director general of National Security Intelligence (NSI) and Department of Immigration and Passports was arrested on Tuesday as the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 issued arrest warrant against him.

Mohammad Wahidul Haque, 69, was arrested from his Baridhara house in the capital at 12.30 pm soon after Tribunal-1 issued arrest warrant against him.

"Haque was an adjutant with 29th Cavalry Regiment in Pakistan army at Rangpur Cantonment. On 28 March 1971, Pakistani army gunned down 500 to 600 Bengalis and Santals in Rangpur, using machineguns on top of four military jeeps. Haque was in charge of the first vehicle as the sole Bengali officer who was still free to roam around," senior prosecutor Tureen Afroz told BSS.

"Haque and his associates didn't stop there. They brutally charged bayonet on the injured and later burnt them to death. Haque left for Pakistan in April 1971 and returned to the country in 1974. He was made Superintendant of Police in 1976. He was made acting director general of NSI in 1996-97 and later became the DG of passports," Tureen added.

Meanwhile, investigation officer Motiur Rahman said the accused will be produced before the tribunal tomorrow (Wednesday).

"A complaint was lodged against him on 5 December 2016, and we are investigating the case based on the complaint. He is very influential and was trying to influence the probe. So, for the sake of proper investigation, we needed to put him behind the bars," said the senior investigator.