Bangladesh Police Arrest Top Leader of War Crime Advocacy Group

Bangladesh Police have arrested Shahriar Kabir, a prominent leader advocating for the trial of war criminals from the 1971 liberation war. Kabir, accused of multiple crimes, was detained from his residence in Dhaka and will be produced in court. His arrest comes amid heightened political tensions in the country.

Bangladesh Police have arrested a top leader of an advocacy group pushing for the trial of war criminals from the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war against Pakistan, officials said Tuesday. 'We have arrested Shahriar Kabir,' a police official told ANI via phone.

'There are 10 cases against him for murders and other crimes,' Dhaka Police said without providing further details. Kabir, president of the advisory council for the Ektarer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, will be presented in court later today.

'Police detained Shahriar Kabir from his residence in Mohakhali, Dhaka at midnight on Monday,' said Kazi Mukul, Executive President of the Ektarer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee. The committee, founded in January 1992, aims to advocate for trials of those who committed crimes against humanity during the War of Independence from Pakistan.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, Mufti Harun Izhar Chowdhury, Hefazat-e-Islam's joint secretary, filed a complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal on August 20, alleging crimes against humanity by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 23 others, including Kabir, linked to a 2013 rally in Motijheel.

Shahriar Kabir, a Bangladeshi journalist, filmmaker, and human rights activist, has authored several books on topics like human rights, communism, fundamentalism, and the Bangladesh war of independence.

Recently, Bangladesh police also detained two senior journalists near the India-Bangladesh border in Mymensingh. Shyamal Dutta and Mozammel Babuare, reportedly close to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, were detained. Hasina was ousted a month ago following a student-led movement and over 600 casualties. She fled to India on August 5, and an interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has since assumed power. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)