DHAKA: Former Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Golam Azam would be held anytime soon on charges of committing ‘crimes against humanity’ during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, investigators announced Sunday.

“Golam Azam will be arrested shortly after the investigation officer submits probe report to the International Crimes Tribunal,” said Abdur Razzak Khan, the investigation officer of the tribunal’s probe body and police inspector of CID.

He made the major disclosure to reporters at the new office of the Tribunal at Ministers’ bhaban in Bailey Road area, based on findings by the probe body.

He said, “Golam Azam was the main collaborator as well as mastermind behind several crimes committed during the independence war--and sufficient evidences have already been collected to prove the crimes.”

The investigation officer added: an arrest warrant will be issued soon against Azam.

Members of the probe body additional Police Super Matiur Rahman, Assistant Police Super Nurul Islam and Police Inspector Abdur Razzak Khan along with Prosecutor Ziad Al Malum visited Sherpur and Mymensingh on September 15 and 16 to investigate the war crimes in the area.

In reply to a question Abdur Razzak Khan told the reporters, “Sufficient evidences of torturing civilians, torching their houses, mass raping and killing mercilessly in 1971 were found in Sherpur and Mymensingh.”

He said, “We have collected photographs and paper cuttings, and interviewed eyewitnesses, injured freedom fighters and family members of the martyrs in this connection. Throughout our field visit we received the name of Jamaat leader Kamaruzzaman repeatedly for committing crimes during the war. We also got the name of his associates.”

Abdur Razzak Khan said a list of 20 persons allegedly involved in the war crimes were prepared preliminarily on the basis of priority. Four of them are already in detention.

Besides, Detained Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Delwar Hossain Sayedee will be produced before the international crimes tribunal (ICT) on September 21.

“The arrest warrant was issued against Sayedee as there were enough allegations against him,” said Razzak.

Besides, Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary-General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and assistant secretaries-general Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Mollah are now facing trial at the war-crime tribunal.

BDST: 1834 HRS. SEP 19, 2010