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Bangabandhu Murder Case

I was not aware of any breach in army chain of command: PW-4

By Staff Correspondent
The fourth prosecution witness in the Bangabandhu murder case told the Court of District and Sessions Judge. Dhaka, yesterday that he was not aware of any breach in the Army chain of command while he was on duty at the residence of Bangabandhu on August 15. 1975.
Mohammad Quddus Sikder, 58. a retired Army Havilder who was the Guard Commander at the residence of the then President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujlbur Rahman, also told the court that he continued his duty there till the morning of August 17. 1975 and was not aware of any breach in the Army chain of command during that time.
During the day's proceedings. lawyers of the five accused in custody completed their cross-examination of Sikder.
Sikder was earlier cross-examined by the 14 lawyers of the state defence, appointed by the government for the 14 absconding accused In the case.
After a break of three days, hearing of the case resumed at about 11:00 am yesterday and continued till about 4:40 pm.
The next prosecution witness will make his deposition tomorrow when the hearing re sumesat 10:30 am.
Sikder also told the court that many people wanted to visit the residence of Bangabandhu after the killings but
they were stopped by guards.
The Army and police guards deployed at the residence of Bangabandhu did not exchange gunshots with the attackers, he said.
He was asked whether the list of items found in that house Including arms and ammuni tion which were also recorded in the inventory, were prepared In his presence. Sikder answered in the negative.
He also told the court that he did not see any arms and am munition Th that house. '
He also said that an Army officer visited the residence after the Incident but he was not aware whether that officer was MA Hamid, the Station Commander of Dhaka.
When the Judge completed recording the evidence by the PW-4. the prosecution side moved a petition under Section 540 of tne Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), seeking permission of the court to allow them to use the confessional statements of the two accused persons, Sheikh Yunus All and Abu Musa Majumder, who were arrested earlier but were not sent up for trial. Their confessional statements were recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC.
One of the defence lawyers raised objection saying that these petitions should be disposed of by the court after hearing both the sides and for that, a date should be fixed.
The court observed that both the prosecution and the defence would be able to use those statements if and when necessary.
Earlier, the court, on a petition from the defence side, provided them with copies of those confessional statements.
According to Slkder. no personnel of the Defence Forces Intelligence (DFI) was posted oh duty at the residence of the then President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the night of the incident.
He also told that the Incident took place after hoisting of the National Flag. There was a
written order for hoisting and lowering the National Flag.
Sikder also said that on the day of the incident, the National Flag was lowered at the scheduled time.
There was also a kote’ for ammunition of the Army guards in their camp locatea at Road No 31. he said adding that it used to be kept under guard at
night.
Sikder. however, said that he could not remember the name of the NCO who was given the responsibility to guard the kote' on the night of the incident.
Sikder said he guarded the residence of Bangabandhu on August 15. 1975 under the instructions of Capt Bazlul Huda, who was not his commanding officer. He also told that his commanding officer was Capt. Bashar.
Sikder told the court that he was not tutored before his evidence. but was "informed about the court language".
He also said that he was taken to the office of the CID for interrogation and not for giving evidence. After getting the summon from the court, he could realise that he had been named as a witness in the case, he added.
BSS adds: Sikder said: "At the outset of the occurrence, the guards on duty, including myself. could do nothing when the intruder army officers stormed the house of Bangabandhu as we had arms without ammunition. The ammunition were taken away earlier by Subedar Major Abdul Wahab Joarder. (one of the accused in the case)
Sikder said there was no exchange of gunfire at the place of occurrence. The Intruder# stormed the house with gunshots and the firing came from one side, he added