On Tuesday, Bangladesh police arrested Shahriar Kabir, a leading figure in an advocacy group that has been vocal in demanding justice for war criminals involved in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Kabir, the president of the advisory council of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, was apprehended from his residence in Dhaka’s Mohakhali area in the early hours of Monday.
The police stated that Kabir is facing 10 separate cases, including accusations of murder. His arrest comes amid a tense political climate in Bangladesh, following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a month ago.
The arrest has sent shockwaves across Bangladesh, as Kabir has been a prominent journalist, human rights activist, and a staunch advocate for the trials of war criminals, playing a key role in the establishment of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh.
Who is Shahriar Kabir?
Shahriar Kabir is not only a journalist but also a documentary filmmaker, human rights advocate, and author. His work focuses primarily on the atrocities committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, and he has been at the forefront of the movement advocating for justice against those responsible for war crimes.
Kabir has written several books on topics such as communism, fundamentalism, and Bangladesh’s independence struggle.
He is also the president of the advisory council of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, a group established in January 1992 to bring to justice those who committed crimes against humanity during the War of Independence. The organization’s mission has been to ensure that those who collaborated with Pakistani forces and committed atrocities during the war are held accountable through proper legal channels. Kabir’s arrest has raised questions about the motives behind targeting a figure so deeply involved in Bangladesh’s efforts to address its war-torn past.
“We have arrested Shahriar Kabir,” a Dhaka police official told ANI. “There are 10 cases against him for murders and other crimes,” they added, without providing further details. Kabir will be produced in court later in the day.
Multiple Cases of Alleged Crimes
While the details surrounding Kabir’s alleged crimes remain unclear, local sources have connected his arrest to a wider political scenario. According to reports from the Dhaka Tribune, one of the cases filed against Kabir stems from his alleged involvement in the mass killing during a rally organized by Hefazat-e-Islam on May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel. The complaint was filed by Mufti Harun Izhar Chowdhury, Hefazat-e-Islam’s joint secretary, on August 20, 2023.
Kabir, along with 23 others, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was accused of crimes against humanity related to the events of that day.
The rally, which was a significant political event in 2013, saw violent clashes between Hefazat supporters and law enforcement, leading to numerous casualties.
Kabir’s association with the event, though still unclear, has become a focal point of the accusations laid against him, reflecting the deep political divisions currently affecting Bangladesh.
Kabir’s arrest also comes at a time when other prominent figures have been detained by the police. In recent weeks, two senior journalists, Shyamal Dutta and Mozammel Babuare, were also arrested near the India-Bangladesh border in Mymensingh.
Both journalists are known to be close associates of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. These arrests, combined with Kabir’s detention, point to a broader effort to suppress individuals linked to Hasina’s political camp.
Political Context and the Ousting of Sheikh Hasina
The arrest of Shahriar Kabir occurs against the backdrop of significant political turmoil in Bangladesh. A month ago, a student-led movement led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after weeks of protests that escalated into violent clashes.
These demonstrations claimed the lives of more than 600 people and resulted in the establishment of an interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus. Following the unrest, Hasina fled to India on August 5, and her whereabouts have remained unclear since.
The new political leadership in Bangladesh, led by Yunus, has faced challenges in stabilizing the country amid ongoing political tensions.
The arrest of figures associated with Hasina’s former government has raised concerns over a potential political purge. Some analysts argue that Kabir’s detention is part of a larger crackdown on individuals and organizations linked to the former regime.
Kabir’s advocacy for the trials of war criminals and his role in pushing for accountability during the 1971 war has also made him a target of groups who oppose these efforts. His involvement in documenting human rights violations and his work with the International Crimes Tribunal have made him a significant figure in Bangladesh’s legal and political landscape, with both supporters and detractors.
The arrest of Shahriar Kabir has sparked widespread debate in Bangladesh, especially in light of his long-standing role as an advocate for human rights and justice. The charges against him, linked to both historical events and more recent political developments, underscore the complex and deeply polarized political climate in the country.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how Kabir’s case will be handled by the authorities and what impact it will have on the broader efforts to hold war criminals accountable in Bangladesh.
