Former minister Latif Siddiqui arrested

Former minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui has been arrested by Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) in a case filed with the International Crimes Tribunal over the Shapla Chattar incident.

He was arrested from his Gulshan residence in the capital around 6pm on Wednesday (July 29) .

Confirming the arrest, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (DB) Shafiqul Islam said Latif Siddiqui has been taken to the DB office. He will be produced before the International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, Latif Siddiqui appeared before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station. Speaking to journalists at the court premises, he said he is the 10th accused in the case filed over the Shapla Chattar incident. He had planned to surrender before the International Crimes Tribunal next week if police did not arrest him.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 recently took cognisance of formal charges against 41 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed, over crimes against humanity in connection with the Hifazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel on May 5, 2013. Arrest warrants were also issued against the absconding accused.

A total of 41 people have been accused in this case, including Latif Siddiqui. With his arrest, the number of arrested accused in this case has risen to nine. Those currently arrested include former minister Dr Dipu Moni, former State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, former IGP A.K.M. Shahidul Haque, retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan, journalist Shahriar Kabir, Farzana Rupa, Mozammel Babu and several others.