The International Crimes Tribunal has granted bail to Muhammad Wahidul Haque, former Director General (DG) of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Passport Directorate, in a case related to war crimes from the 1971 Liberation War.
The bail was passed on Tuesday by a three-judge bench led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumdar, reports UNB.
Defense lawyer Abdus Sattar Palwan stated that Wahidul Haque has been in custody since April 24, 2018, and there are no obstacles remaining for his release from jail.
The charges against him indicate that on March 28, 1971, around 4 PM, thousands of freedom-seeking civilians gathered in the Kotwali police station area, south of the Rangpur cantonment, to protest against the brutal massacre carried out by the Pakistani army on the night of March 25, and to express their support for independence.
Under the command of Major (Retired) Muhammad Wahidul Haque, who was a captain in the 29 Cavalry Regiment of Rangpur Cantonment during the war, armed forces indiscriminately fired machine guns on the unarmed civilians, resulting in the deaths of 500 to 600 people.
Wahidul Haque was indicted for crimes against humanity on December 5, 2016. Following this, an investigation was initiated based on the charges. Allegations arose that he attempted to influence the investigation, leading the tribunal to issue an arrest warrant against him.
He was subsequently arrested from his residence in Baridhara, Gulshan, on April 24, 2018, and the tribunal ordered his remand into custody. On October 16, 2019, the International Crimes Tribunal ordered the formal framing of charges against him.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
