Detained Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and former industries minister Motiur Rahman Nizami was yesterday shown arrested in cases linked to the country's largest ever arms haulinChittagongonApril2,2004.

Metropolitan Magistrate Hussain Muhammad Fazlul Bari passed the order for showing Nizami arrested in the cases following a prayer from Investigation Officer (IO) Mohammad Moniruzzaman Chowdhury, senior ASP of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Chittagong.

Assistant Public Prosecutor (PP) Nazrul Islam Shentu, who appeared before the court for the state, said then Industries Minister Nizami did not take any legal action in connection with the seizure of arms and ammunition at Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd (CUFL) jetty. CUFL is a state-owned factory under the industries ministry.

Nizami's indifference regarding the seizure was revealed in a statement by former chairman of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) Maj Gen Mohammad Imamuzzaman, said the assistant PR

In his statement before a Chittagong court under section 164 on October 5 last year, Imamuzzaman said then industries minister Nizami showed no interest to the seizure of 10-truck load of arms and ammunition. Nizami also asked the then BCIC chairman to do nothing regarding the incident since the home ministry was going to take steps.

The former BCIC chairman also said Nizami was loathing when he sought direction from him about forming a probe body.

“I thought Nizami was avoiding the matter. I asked him twice or thrice if we needed anything to do in this regard. Will you [Nizami) form a probe body?” said Imamuzzaman in his statement, adding that Nizami then kept silence and looked upset.

CID moved the petition at the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate yesterday morning and the court fixed the hearing at the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Fazlul Bari in the afternoon.

The court during the hearing on the petition at around 3.00pm also allowed the investigators to interrogate Nizami at Dhaka Central Jail gate.

Meanwhile, Nizami will be quizzed today at a safe house in Dhanmondi in connection with war crime charges. Detained Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojahid will also be interrogated on similar charges at the same house on May8.

Investigators will interrogate detained BNP lawmaker

Salauddin Quader Chowdhury on May 10 and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee on May 12 in connection with charges of crimes against humanity in 1971, an investigator toldThe Daily Star.

On April 03,2004, two cases were filed with Karnaphuli Police Station under section-25/B of the Special Powers Act for arms smuggling and section-19 (ka) of the Arms Act in connection with the arms haul.

Former State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar was shown arrested in the same cases on October 3 last year. CID has so far arrested several high officials including two former director generals of the NSI Maj Gen (retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury and Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim Chowdhury, former director (security) Wing Commander (retd) Sahab Uddin, former deputy director (technical) Maj (retd) Liakat Hossain, NSI Field Officer Akbar Hossain, former CUFL managing director Mohsin Talukder and General Manager (Admin) Enamul Haq in connection with the arms haul.