Shawdesh Desk:

Former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj on Tuesday after spending 18 years behind bars.

Babar, who faced 14 cases during his incarceration, including death sentences in the Chattogram arms haul and August 21, 2004 grenade attack cases, was acquitted of three charges under the current Awami League government.

Dhaka Division Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Jahangir Kabir confirmed Babar’s release at 1:45 PM, saying, ‘We freed Babar following the court’s order.’

In addition to Babar, several other high-profile individuals involved in the 2004 Chattogram 10-truck arms haul case were also released. They include Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, former director general of the National Security Intelligence and Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, Liaquat Hossain, former NSI deputy director, Akbar Hossain Khan, former NSI field officer, Shahabuddin Ahmad, retired wing commander, and Mohsin Uddin Talukder, former managing director of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited.

The High Court on Monday acquitted Babar and four others who had been serving life sentences in the 10-truck arms haul case, clearing the way for their release. The acquitted individuals include Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, Mohsin Uddin Talukder, former CUFL general manager KM Enamul Haque, and Md Nurul Amin, who remains in hiding.

The appeals of several other convicts were dismissed, including that of former Jamaat-e-Islami chief and industries minister Matiur Rahman Nizami, who was executed for war crimes. Three other accused — retired Brigadier General Md Abdur Rahim, labor supplier Din Mohammad, and trawler owner Haji Md Abdus Sobhan — died in custody during the proceedings.

The Chattogram 10-truck arms haul case remains one of the most significant arms trafficking cases in Bangladesh’s history, drawing connections to political, military, and intelligence figures.