TDS Desk:

The International Crimes Tribunal has sought an explanation from the police chief within 15 days regarding how Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader left the country, according to ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam.

Tajul made this statement following a hearing of a case filed on charges of mass killings and crimes against humanity at the tribunal on Tuesday.

“We have drawn the tribunal’s attention to the fact that Obaidul Quader was in Bangladesh for the past three months. After an arrest warrant was issued, where he was, how he stayed in the country and why he was not arrested—or how he subsequently crossed Bangladesh’s border—these issues require an explanation from law enforcement,” he said.

The court had instructed that this explanation must be provided within 15 days, the lawyer added.

If anyone assisted an individual in fleeing despite a court order, there was an opportunity to take action against them under the law, Tajul said.

Earlier, after 10am, 16 accused, including Awami League leader Amir Hossain Amu, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu, were presented before the tribunal.