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Bangabandhu Murder Case

Court rejects defence plea for adjournment of hearing

By Staff Correspondent
The 13th prosecution witness in Bangabandhu murder case said yesterday that he saw Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed along with Maj Khandaker Abdur Rashid and some others entering the Dhaka Radio Station in the morning of August 15. 1975.
Dafader (retd) Shafiuddln Sarder. PW-13. also said that he saw the Chief of Army Staff. Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff coming from the cantonment side and enter ing the Radio Station Maj Dalim came immediately afterwards in a Jeep, he said in his deposition in the Court of District and Session s Judge. Dhaka.
"I reached the Radio Station at about 7 15 am and remained posted there till about 9:00 am or 9:30 am. the PW 13 said
Shafiuddln. 45. also said that he was among the participants in the night parade of Bengal Lancer Unit that had begun at around 8:30 pm on August 14. 1975 and also among the troops that moved out of cantonment in a convoy of vehicles at around 3:30 the same night.
“In the early morning, when we reached the entry point of Road No. 32 along the Mirpur Road. Dafader Marfat All told me that they had killed Sheikh Moni and his wife at their residence. I also heard the noise of gun shots as we reached the entry point of Rd No 32."
Shafiuddln said that he was in the group that had distributed breakfast to the troops posted tn different areas in tne city on August 15. 1975
At around 10:30 am on that
day. when I brought breakfast for the soldiers I came to know that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Begum Mujib, their three sons, two daughters-in-law. Sheikh Naser, and a police officer were killed in the early hours of the day at Bangabandhu's rest dence," he said.
Shafiuddln was cross-examined by nine of the 14 lawyers of the 14 absconding accused yesterday. Five others declined to cross-examine him. The proceedings of the court were adjourned till 10:00 am today
At the fag end of the day's proceedings yesterday. Khan Saifur Rahman. lawyer of ac cused In custody Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Farookur Rah man. moved a petition praying for adjournment of further hearing of the case, because newspaper reports revealed that the judge had met a diplomat who observed the proceedings of the case on Wednesday last.
Rejecting the petition. District and Sessions Judge Kazi Golam Rasul .said, T assure you that I did not have any sucn meeting with anyone." The reporter concerned apologised to the court saying what had appeared in the newspaper was a printing mistake.
The lawyer then pleaded that continuation of the proceedings after the prayer for adjournment under Section 526 (8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure raised apprehension regarding fair trial for his client.
. The judge said. Please ascer tain the authenticity of the incident before blaming the court of Its neutrality I do not see any reason why the proceedings should be adjourned now. The proceedings will continue, till the higher court stops the proceedings of the case or it gets stopped by some other ways."
In his deposition the PW-13 also said that he had seen Maj Khandaker Abdur Rashid of the Second Field Artillery visiting the First Bengal Lancer Unit in the later hours of August 14, 1975
"Maj Farook had left the unit along with Maj Rashid but had returned after sometime.
"Because of the scheduled parade of the Second Field Artillery at Balurghat on that night, the parade of the Bengal Lancer Unit was held in our own parade ground.
"At around 3:30 am, Risalder Moslemuddin. along with Dafader Marfat All Shah and ALD Abul Hashem Mrldha boarded a truck and asked me to follow their truck."
He further said. "An officer boarded my jeep and some Jamans of the Second Field
Artillery also followed him. We reached Mohakhall where we saw Artillery forces. Some forces also boarded the truck of Moslemuddin.
The convoy reached Mirpur Road via Farm Gate and went to Sat Masjid Road crossing the Dhanmondi field. Then it moved towards the south and stopped after crossing a lake.
"Risalder Moslemuddin. Dafader Marfat Ali Shah and Abul Hashem Mrldha got down from their vehicle along with others and rushed to a two-storied building. I heard noise of gun shots at the first floor of the house and the group returned soon after
As we reached the entry Kof Rd No. 32 at the Mirpur
, 1 asked Dafadar Marfat Ali whose house was that. He told me that they had killed Sheikh Moni and his wife there.
"On arrival at the entry K>int of Rd No. 32, Risalder oslemuddin. Dafadar Marfat Ali Shah and Abul Hashem Mrldha had left for the residence of Bangabandhu located on that road." he said.
"Maj Farook then came in a tank and ordered me to go to the Radio Station. He came to Mirpur Road through Rd No. 32. We left for the Radio Station as Rlsaldar Moslemuddin. Dafadar Marfat Ali Shah and Abul Hashem Mrldha came back and boarded the vehicle."