He was nabbed a day after the International Crimes Tribunal-2 ordered his arrest, ICT Prosecutor Rana Dasgupta told bdnews24.com.
“We have come to know that police arrested him [Kaiser] Thursday night,” he said.
But Kaiser was admitted at a private hospital in the capital after his arrest. He was undergoing treatment at the coronary care unit (CCU).
Confirming his arrest, Investigation Officer Monwara Begum told bdnews24.com: “We have spoken with police. Syed Mohammed Kaiser was not handcuffed as he was at the CCU.”
Officer-in-Charge of Bhatara Police Station Syed Ziauzzaman said, “We have Kaiser under our watch after we confirmed his admission in the hospital.”
On Wednesday, the tribunal had issued the order after prosecution sought the arrest warrant for the sake of probe. Prosecutor Rana Dasgupta on Tuesday had filed the complaints with Justice Obaidul Hassan-led ICT-2.
Complaints against Kaisar include those of murder and participation in genocide.
IO Monwara Begum said Kaiser had formed one ‘Kaisar Bahini’ (a group after his name) to collaborate with the Pakistani forces in Habiganj during the war in 1971.
Kaiser was a leader in the Muslim League, but later he joined BNP during the regime of Ziaur Rahman. He was the State Minister for Agriculture during the military regime of Hussein Muhammad Ershad.
Seeking his arrest, Dasgupta on Wednesday told the tribunal, "When the investigation against him is progressing, he and his family are scaring and threatening the witnesses. This is hindering the probe."
He also alleged that many witnesses could not be found in their addresses in Habiganj.
Prosecutor Dasgupta told reporters the other main reason to seek his arrest was to ensure that he cannot flee.
Monwara Begum on Wednesday told the tribunal that the enquiry into the charges against Kaiser could be finished within the next two weeks if a suitable environment to conduct the investigation was ensured.
Then, Justice Obaidul Hassan ordered police to arrest Kaiser.