List of fugitives almost done

Home Secretary Safar Raj Hossain, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Anwarul Iqbal, director generals of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and ansar, and other high officials attended the meeting.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Babar said a list of criminals who have been absconding--evading trials or convictions--has been almost finalised.

No names were withdrawn from the list on political consideration, he claimed, saying, "Only the names of leaders and workers of the four-party alliance, who were implicated in cases on political reasons by the previous Awami League government, have been withdrawn."

Babar said if minister Tariqul Islam had not been implicated in the case for Udichi bomb blast in Jessore, Islamist militant Harkatul Jihad leader Mufti Hannan would have been arrested much earlier.