RAB Arrests Convicted War Criminal in Sylhet

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested a convicted war criminal from Sylhet's Golapganj — a year after he was sentenced in a case related to war crimes in 1971.

The 70-year-old convict, Md Abdul Matin, is a resident of Barlekha upazila in Moulvibazar district, reports UNB.

According to the case, Matin took training in India for the Liberation War, but later joined Razakars (collaborators of the Pakistani army) and committed war crimes.  

Based on information, a team of RAB-3 arrested the absconding convict Matin from the residence of his nephew in Golapganj on Sunday night.

His arrest comes seven years after he went into hiding following a warrant, RAB said in a press release on Monday.

Five charges of crimes against humanity including murder, genocide, kidnapping, torture, looting, arson and rape in 1971 were brought against Abdul Matin and two others named Abdul Aziz and Abdul Mannan, who were also sentenced to death in the case.

They were arrested earlier and they are now at Kashimpur Jail, added the release.

On October 16, 2014, the International Crimes Tribunal started an investigation against them.

The Tribunal completed its investigation on November 14, 2016.

On May 19, 2022, the tribunal sentenced the three to death.