>Worldbruce at 00:15, 21 September 2021

2021-09-21T00:15:43Z

New page

{{Short description|Bangladeshi politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Lutfozzaman Babar
| native_name = লুৎফুজ্জামান বাবর
| native_name_lang = bn
| image = Babar 2012.jpg
| caption = Babar in 2005
| office = [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh)|State Minister of Home Affairs]]
| term_start = 10 October 2001
| term_end = 29 October 2006
| primeminister = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| predecessor = [[Mohammed Nasim (politician)|Mohammed Nasim]]
| successor = [[Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj]]
| constituency_MP1 = [[Netrokona-4]]
| term_start1 = 5 March 1991
| term_end1 = 24 November 1995
| predecessor1 = Dewan Shahjahan Eaar Chowdhury
| successor1 = [[Abdul Momin (politician)|Abdul Momin]]
| term_start2 = 28 October 2001
| term_end2 = 27 October 2006
| predecessor2 =[[Abdul Momin (politician)|Abdul Momin]]
| successor2 = [[Rebecca Momin]]
| birth_place = [[Netrokona]], Bangladesh
| party = [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
| nationality = Bangladeshi
}}

'''Lutfozzaman Babar''' is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the Bangladeshi [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh)|State Minister of Home Affairs]] in the [[Second Khaleda Cabinet|Khaleda Zia Cabinet]], as a member of the [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]. He is currently in prison for the death penalties in two cases – in January 2014 on charges of [[10-Truck Arms and Ammunition Haul in Chittagong|2004 arms smuggling in Chittagong]] and in October 2018 for killing through criminal conspiracy at the [[2004 Dhaka grenade attack]].<ref name=jul16>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/country/babar-released-parole-attend-mothers-janaza-1252609|title=Babar released on parole to attend mother’s janaza|date=2016-07-12|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref><ref name=oct18>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/august-21-carnage/21-august-grenade-attack-verdict-tarique-rahman-awarded-life-1645090|title=August 21 attack: 'State-backed crime' punished|date=2018-10-11|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref>

== Early life and career==
Babar is originated from [[Netrokona]]. He joined the central committee of [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] in 1996.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/from-casio-to-arms-9079|title=From Casio to arms|date=2014-01-30|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-23|author=M Abul Kalam Azad}}</ref>

Babar was elected to parliament twice from [[Netrokona-4]] constituency during 1991–1996 and 2001–2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/mps/members-of-parliament/former-mp-s/list-of-8th-parliament-members-bangla?csrt=17818048365044852367|title=List of 8th Parliament Members|website=Bangladesh Parliament|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref> In 2001, he was appointed as the [[Minister of Home Affairs|State Minister of Home Affairs]] as the youngest member of the Khaleda Zia Cabinet.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/584|title=Bangladesh: Babar & his magic stick|work=Asian Tribune|language=en|access-date=2018-08-30|date=2006-06-15}}</ref>

After the [[2005 Netrokona bombing]], Babar first blamed the attack on a Hindu man, Yadav Das, who was killed in the explosion but on 15 December 2005, he rescinded his statement and said Yadav was innocent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Babar takes U-turn to term Yadav innocent |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2005/12/15/d5121501022.htm |work=The Daily Star |access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Bishawjit |title=Yadav was coaxed to go to the spot |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2005/12/10/d5121001022.htm |work=The Daily Star |access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://bdnews24.com/politics/2005/12/09/netrokona-blast-who-s-suicide-bomber|title=Netrokona blast: Who's suicide bomber?|work=bdnews24.com|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref>

On 27 December 2008, Babar was expelled from BNP after contesting the [[2008 Bangladeshi general election]] as an independent candidate while in prison.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-68963|title=Babar expelled from BNP|date=2008-12-27|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-12-14|language=en}}</ref> In December 2009, BNP withdrew the expulsion order against him and reinstated him in the party.<ref name=back/>

==Charges and convictions==
===Illegal firearms and ammunitions===
During the [[2006–08 Bangladeshi political crisis#State of emergency|2007 state of emergency]] in Bangladesh, Babar was arrested from his Gulshan residence on 28 May for possessing illegal firearms.<ref name=back>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-118507|title=BNP takes Babar back|date=2009-12-19|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref> On 30 October, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for keeping a revolver illegally and another 7 years for keeping 25 rounds of bullets illegally. He was found guilty by a special tribunal set up by the [[2006–08 Bangladeshi political crisis#Caretaker government is formed|caretaker government]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7068873.stm|title=Former Bangladesh minister jailed|date=2007-10-30|access-date=2020-01-23|work=BBC News|language=en-GB}}</ref> On 1 December 2008, he lost his division status in the prison after he had been caught twice in possession of contraband cellphones.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-65677|title=Babar stripped of division status in jail|date=2008-12-01|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-12-14|language=en}}</ref>

===Grenade attack===
The [[2004 Dhaka grenade attack]] on 21 August on an [[Awami League]] rally killed [[Ivy Rahman]], wife of future President [[Zillur Rahman]], along with 23 others and wounded more than 300 people.<ref name=confession/> According to the April 2011 confessional statements by the [[Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami Bangladesh|Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami]] (HUJI) leader [[Mufti Abdul Hannan]], upon his request, [[Tarique Rahman]], then senior joint secretary general of BNP, assigned Babar, then state home minister, and [[Abdus Salam Pintu]], then deputy industries minister, to provide assistance to the HUJI men to carry out the attack.<ref name=confession>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-267748|title=Mufti Hannan revealed Hawa Bhaban plot|date=2013-02-04|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref> Hannan met Babar among others in a meeting in [[Hawa Bhaban]], the political office of BNP Chairperson [[Khaleda Zia]].<ref name=confession/> On 18 August 2004, three days before the attack, the HUJI leaders met Babar at the residence of Pintu.<ref name=mar12/> In March 2012, a Dhaka court framed charges against 30 accused, including Babar, in the supplementary charge sheet of the case.<ref name=mar12>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-226847|title=Tarique, Babar indicted|date=2012-03-19|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://bdnews24.com/politics/2017/10/24/jamaat-bnp-colluded-with-militants-to-carry-out-grenade-attack-on-awami-league-rally|title='Jamaat, BNP colluded with militants' to carry out grenade attack on Awami League rally|work=bdnews24.com|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> According to the charges, Babar and Pintu assured all administrative assistance regarding the attack.<ref name=mar12/> Also Maulana Tajuddin, supplier of the grenades, also a brother of Pintu, left Bangladesh for Pakistan on instructions from Babar.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-116036|title=Babar, Salam helped Huji execute plot|date=2009-12-01|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-12-14|language=en}}</ref> On 10 October 2018, Babar was given death penalty on charges of killing through criminal conspiracy.<ref name=oct18/> He had appealed the verdict.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/200717/21-Aug-grenade-attacks-Time-to-approve-death|title=21 Aug grenade attacks: Time to approve death sentences|work=Prothom Alo|language=en|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref>

===Chittagong arms haul===
On 1 April 2004, [[Bangladesh Police]] and [[Bangladesh Coast Guard]] interrupted a loading of [[10-Truck Arms and Ammunition Haul in Chittagong|10 trucks and seized illegal arms and ammunitions]] at a jetty of [[Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Limited]] (CUFL) on the [[Karnaphuli River]].<ref name=eishei>{{Cite news |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/article/136291|script-title=bn:সেই বাবর আর এই বাবর|date=2013-01-31|work=Prothom Alo|language=bn|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> Babar, the then state home minister, visited the area the next day to inspect the seized arms.<ref name=eishei/>

After the [[2008 Bangladeshi general election]], when [[Awami League]] formed the government, fresh investigation started on this case. On 30 September 2010, in a statement to a Chittagong court, Sabbir Ali, the then police-commissioner of Chittagong metropolitan police, said that Babar directed him not to arrest [[National Security Intelligence]] officials engaged to help offload arms and ammunition at the jetty on 2 April 2004. on 3 October, Babar was arrested for direct involvement in that arms haul.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-157091|title=Babar now accused|date=2010-10-04|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-171737|title=Babar denied bail in Ctg arms haul case|date=2011-01-27|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> On 15 March 2012, former [[Directorate General of Forces Intelligence]] chief Sadik Hasan Rumi told Chittagong Metropolitan Special Tribunal-1 that Babar might have links to the smuggling of the arms since Babar forbade him not to conduct an independent investigation into the incident following the seizure.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-226528|title=Babar prevented DGFI probe|date=2012-03-16|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>

On 30 January 2014, Babar was sentenced to death for his role in the case.<ref name=jul16/>

===Others===
Babar was sued by the [[Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh)|Anti-Corruption Commission]] for hiding information about wealth worth about Tk 7.6 crore in the wealth statement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-68796|title=Business of Babar unknown|date=2008-12-26|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-12-14|language=en}}</ref> On 16 September 2008, he was granted bail on the case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-55052|title=Sheikh Selim, Abbas, Babar granted bail|date=2008-09-16|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-12-14|language=en}}</ref>

Babar was among the 32 people charged with the killing of former finance minister [[Shah A M S Kibria]] in January 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/country/kibria-murder-suspended-scc-mayor-ariful-gets-bail-1281559|title=Kibria murder: Suspended Sylhet mayor Ariful gets bail|date=2016-09-06|work=The Daily Star|access-date=2017-12-14|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Babar, Lutfozzaman}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Netrokona District]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians]]
[[Category:5th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:8th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:State Ministers of Home Affairs (Bangladesh)]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi male criminals]]

Lutfozzaman Babar - Revision history

>Worldbruce at 00:15, 21 September 2021