The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on Thursday ordered former minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui to be sent to jail after showing him arrested in a crimes against humanity case filed over the alleged massacre during a rally of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh at the Shapla Chattar in the capital in 2013.
Prosecutor Mizanul Islam appeared for the prosecution. During the hearing, he told the tribunal that Latif Siddiqui was arrested under a warrant and produced before the court. Since the defence did not file any application, the prosecution sought an order to send him to jail.
After hearing the submissions, the tribunal accepted the prosecution’s plea, showed Latif Siddiqui arrested in the case and ordered that he be sent to prison.
Earlier, Latif Siddiqui was arrested from Gulshan by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Wednesday night in connection with the case.
The tribunal earlier took cognisance of the formal charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others in the case. It also issued arrest warrants for 31 absconding accused, including Latif Siddiqui.
The tribunal fixed August 16 for the next hearing and directed authorities to produce the 10 accused currently in jail in connection with various cases before the tribunal on that date.
Allegations against the accused
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Prosecutor Mizanul said the then government had planned at different levels to foil the Hefazat grand rally and remove its leaders and activists from the Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013.
He alleged that Latif Siddiqui attended a meeting of senior Awami League leaders before the operation, and that the decisions taken at the meeting were later presented to the then prime minister.
According to the prosecution, those decisions led to the joint operation carried out by members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) against the unarmed gathering.
The prosecution said its investigation found evidence that 61 people were killed in the operation and alleged that Latif Siddiqui was among those involved in planning, instigating and making decisions regarding the operation.
Asked about Latif Siddiqui’s specific role, Mizanul said he was a participant in the meeting. Although investigators could not establish every discussion held there, he was accused based on the collective decisions taken and the subsequent actions.
After the hearing, defence lawyer Abdullah Al Harun Bhuiyan sought the tribunal’s permission to sign the okalatnama (power of attorney) on behalf of Latif Siddiqui and requested permission to meet him at the tribunal lock-up. The tribunal granted both requests.
At that point, Latif Siddiqui stood up in the dock and repeatedly tried to draw the tribunal’s attention, saying, “My Lord, I seek your attention. I seek the attention of the honourable tribunal.”
He repeated the request several times, but by then the proceedings had already concluded.
Latif Siddiqui then remarked, “If this is how the court functions, where shall I go?”
Police personnel approached him and asked him to place the microphone down and proceed to the lock-up. He appeared agitated and responded when officers asked him to sit down, saying, “Whether I sit or stand is my decision. Who are you to tell me?”
“I wanted to tell the court to sentence me to death. I am prepared to die. But the court did not want to hear me,” the former minister said while leaving the courtroom. A brief verbal exchange was also witnessed between him and the police personnel escorting him.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Latif Siddiqui’s younger brother Kader Siddique said he came to protest what he described as the inclusion of an innocent person in the case.
“Every accused person has the right to address the court. That is his legal right. Latif Siddiqui also wanted to speak, but he was not given the opportunity. I believe respected individuals deserve to be treated with respect,” he said.
Asked about the allegations against his brother, Kader Siddique said Latif Siddiqui is now 87 years old. “If he is sentenced to death for an offence he did not commit, we will accept it. Allah will then grant him freedom,” he said.
Responding to a question about the allegation that Latif Siddiqui was among those who planned the Shapla Chattar operation, Kader Siddique rejected the claim.
“He cannot be described as a planner because he was not part of the government’s ‘kitchen cabinet.’ He was the jute minister at that time. People are not killed over jute. In fact, he was already a controversial figure within the Awami League and to Sheikh Hasina over certain issues,” he said.
Comparing handcuffs to bridal bangles, he said, “There is nothing much to say about handcuffs. We have worn handcuffs many times. We do not consider it anything shameful. Just as a bride wears bangles during marriage, we see handcuffs in much the same way.”