DHAKA: State Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Advocate Quamrul Islam said it is not possible to arrest former Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Golam Azam right now, as war-crime investigations are still on.

“Investigation is going on against Golam Azam as suspects in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. So the government could not arrest him now,” said the minister at a meeting Friday.

Bangladesh Enterprise for Development and Security Studies organised the meeting at the National Press Club Friday to press demand for the arrest of war criminals.

The International Crimes Tribunal would issue arrest warrant against Golam Azam in time, he told the meet.

Identified war criminals would be tried at first through investigation. “The trial of war criminals would be finalised in the current tenure of the government,” he said.

BDST: 1622 HRS, SEPT 3, 2010