ICT orders to produce ex-housing minister Muktadir on Dec 14

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has ordered prison authorities to produce former housing and public works minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury before it on December 14 in a case filed over crimes against humanity.

The order came today following a prosecution petition, said Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim.

He said the case involves allegations that several Hefazat-e-Islam leaders and activists were shot dead by police in Brahmanbaria and other parts of the country during anti-government programmes in 2021.

"The ICT's investigation agency had probed the allegations, and during the investigation, Muktadir was arrested in connection with another case," Tamim said. "The tribunal has now directed the jail authorities to produce him before it on December 14 in the crimes against humanity case."

Muktadir, a four-time Awami League lawmaker from Brahmanbaria, was arrested in Dhaka on October 31 last year and produced before a court the following day. He remains in custody, facing multiple murder cases.

He was first elected to parliament in a by-election in 2011.