Ex-housing minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir ordered to appear before ICT
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has directed jail authorities to produce former housing and public works minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury before the tribunal on 14 December in connection with a case alleging crimes against humanity.
The case relates to the deaths of Hefazat-e-Islam activists in police firing in Brahmanbaria in 2021.
The order was issued today (10 November) by the single-member Tribunal-1 of Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
Public Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim stated that the tribunal has been investigating allegations that several Hefazat-e-Islam leaders and activists were shot and killed in Brahmanbaria and other parts of the country during a programme organised against the then-government in 2021.
"Obaidul Muktadir was arrested in a different case while the investigation into the crimes against humanity allegations was ongoing at the tribunal," the prosecutor noted. The tribunal has now formally ordered jail authorities to present him on 14 December for the crimes against humanity case.
The former minister, who previously represented the then Brahmanbaria-3 constituency, was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police from the capital's Mirpur area on 31 October last year.
He was produced before the court the following day and currently remains incarcerated, facing multiple murder charges. One of the cases against him involves the death of BNP activist Makbul Hossain during a clash between police and Awami League men in front of the BNP headquarters in Naya Paltan in 2022.
The former minister is also accused in another murder case filed over the death of a madrasah student during a clash between Awami League and Hefazat-e-Islam supporters in Brahmanbaria in 2021.
RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury became a member of parliament for the first time in a 2011 by-election and was elected for a fourth consecutive time in the 12th National Parliamentary Election held on 7 January 2024.