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Bangabandhu Murder Case

I could not seek help as Lancer forces encircled me: PW-5

By Staff Correspondent
The fifth prosecution witness in Bangabandhu murder case. Abdul Gani, said yesterday that as he was encircled by Lancer forces in the guard room, he could not seek help from police guards when the then President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family mem bers were killed at his residence on August 15. 1975.
Gani. 55. was being cross-examined in the Court of District and Sessions Judge. Dhaka, by one of the live lawyers of the ac cused in custody. Another lawyer started cross-examining him but it remained incomplete.
Earlier, five lawyers of state defence for the absconding accused cross-examined Gani, a retired Army Haviider. who was
a Guard Commander at the residence of Bangabandhu when th^ killings took place. The nine other lawyers of the state defence cross-examined him the previous day
The proceedings resumed at 11:00 am The court was adjourned at about 4:35 pm till Monday
"1 could not seek help from police guards at the residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the time of incident on August 15. 1975 as I was encircled by the Lancer forces." he said adding that he did not see any police guard when he came out
Gani also said that he had earlier reported the incident of August 15, 1975 to his commanding officers Capt Bashar
and Naib Subedar Abdul Mo-talib.
Gani said that while he was on duty at Bangabandhu's residence on August 14. 1975. Naib Subedar Abdul Motalib came to check the guard at around midnight and told him that the next shift of guards would ar rive an hour ahead of schedule as Bangabandhu had a programme at the university.
He also said that his duty had begun at 6:00 am on August 14 for the next 24 hours He also said that he could not complete the handover of charge to next Guard Commander Haviider Abdul Quddus Sikder at around 5:00 am. as he did not have the ammuniUon which were taken away by Wahab Joarder. the ac-cused in custody.
He also told the court that he was bound to follow the orders of senior officers of his regiment even if they were not of his company.
Razzak Khan, lawyer of Wahab Joarder asked Gani whether he had reported this to Naik Afzal who was in charge of the ammunition of the military guards at Bangabandhu's residence. Gani answered in the negative.
"I did not report it to Naik ■ Afzal as Wahab Joarder told me he will replace the old ammunition with the new ones." Gani added.
Replying to another question from the lawyer, Ganf said he did not tell Jaorder that those ammunition were brought by them only a few days back. Everything was normal when Joarder came to take the ammunition from him at around 4:15 am. he added.
He was also asked whether he had Informed the on-duty police and SB officers that Joarder had taken away his ammunition. Gani answered in the negative.
Razzak Khan suggested Gani that he did not tellthe Investigating Officer (IO) that 1000
rounds of bullet used to be kept at the guard room of Bangabandhu's residence. He said that he did.
At this. Serajul Huq, the Chief Special Public Prosecutor raised his objection. The objection was also recorded by the court.
Responding to another question from the lawyer. Gani said that each of the guards, while on duty used to carry 10 round of bullets in their pockets. Those bullets used to be recorded against their names.
The lawyer suggested that he was not on-duty at Bangabandhu's residence from 2:00 am to 6:00 am on August 15. 1975 as per the duty roster which allowed four hours' rest after four hours' work. Gani said that It was not true.
Gani said that the Guard Commander used to distribute duty through consulting his colleagues and that his (Gani) duty had started from 2:00 am.
He told the court that eight military guards were posted at the residence of Bangabandhu. They were on-duty till about 5:00 am and one of them went inside the residence when firing started. Police and the military guards used to discharge their duties there jointly, he said.