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BANGABANDHU MURDER CASE

Verbatim Text of Cross Examination of Thirteenth Prosecution Witness
Continued from yesterday
Following are the excerpts from the cross-examination of Dafadar (retd) Shafiuddin Sardar. PW-13, by Advocate Khan Saifur Rahman, defence counsel for accused Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Farooqur Rahman :
Q : Parade and exercise are not the same.
A : No. different.
Q : There is no briefing system in parade.
A : Briefing takes place.
Q : Parade is a routine affair.
A: Yes.
Q : For parade. Lancers have their own ground.
A : Yes.
Q : Artillery also has Its own parade ground In the cantonment.
, A: Yes.
Q : How far is the Artillery's parade ground away from the Lancer s one.
A : About half a kilometre.
Q : Both the grounds are on the other end of the cantonment. Including Balurghat.
A : Yes. but Balurghat is outside the parade ground.
Q : No tank. jeep, armoured car. military truck or any other vehicle can go outside the cantonment except for night exercise: ' >
A : Can go outside, bilt re-L quires permission from the respective units.
Q : Even during night exercise. such vehicles can't go out of the cantonment without permission.
A : Yes.
Q : Can ail the drivers of lancer drive tanks.
A: No.
Q : Is there any check post ne^ B^yrghat.
Q : What was the time when you left the cantonment on August 15.
A : About 3:30 am.
Q : Did you show any permission' to the guards at the check post while you came out of the cantonment on that night.
A : No. I was not asked to show any.
Q : Military Police remained posted in the check post all the time.
A: Yes.
Q : Did you stop your Jeep at the check post?
A : No. nobody even asked me to stop the vehicle.
Q : wasn't you required to give the number of the vehicle and time for registration in the check post while going out from cantonment.
A : At that time nothing was required. But. normally number
and time were registered at the check post.
Q : You knew that it would not have to give the number .of the vehicle and time.
A : No, I didn't know that.
Q : As you didn't know that, you did not give the number and time.
A : None stopped me. But. the rule was that the vehicle would be stopped.
Q : When tne vehicle was not stopped, didn't it strike your mind.
A : No, because the truck which was in front of me whisked away.
Q : It struck your mind.
A : Yes.
Q : You were the first party to reach the crossing of Mlrpur Road and Road-32.
A : No It is not true.
Q : Soldiers were there before your arrival.
A: Yes.
Q : Those- who were there were both from Artillery and Lancer.
A : Yes.
Q : From which mess — artillery or lancer — the breakfast was sent there.
A: Lancer.
Q : From August 15 morning Martial Law was promulgated andI,curfew impqsod „.... , ,
A : I don't remember that.
Q : How late you arrived at Mlrpur Road than the soldiers you found after your arrival.
A : 1 can't say.
Q You knew
Bangabandhu's residence.
^"'^len did the Incident take place — before or after your arrival at the crossing of Mlrpur Road and Road-32?
A : When I arrived there I heard sound of firing.
Q : The firing was of that incident?
A : I didn’t know.
Q : You did not know when the tanks came out of the cantonment.
A: No.
Q : Did you come to know later that tanks came out of the cantonment following promulgation of martial law.
A : No.
Q : Was there any shop on Mlrpur Road near the crossing of Mlrpur Road and Road-32.
A : I don't remember.
Q : Did you hear anything from radio there.
A : No.
Q : Did you talk to the soldiers there?
A : I talked to the soldiers after I went there for the second time with breakfast.
Q : Did you come to know about the promulgation of man
tial law and imposition of curfew during your talks with them.
A: No.
Q : The soldiers in your jeep and in the truck went to Mlrpur Road for the reinforcement of the force deployed there.
A : We stopped our vehicle at the crossing of .Road-32, and Moslemuddin, Marfat and others went to Road-32 to help the force there. I was a driver, so 1 can't say whether they went there to strengthen them or not.
Q : You were not an eyewitness of the incident at Bangabandhu's house.
A I didn't go to Bangabandhu's house, but I saw the firing incident from the Road-32 crossing.
Q : You had seen the sound of firing from the crossing.
A : T saw the firing and also heard the sound.
Q : Bangabandhu’s house, its gate and the army shed were visible from that crossing.
A : I saw the military personnel on the road near Bangabandhu's house, but can't say about the military shed.
Q : Was there any shed in the south of the road in front of Bangabandhu's house.
A A 1 don’t have any knowpj edge about ft. -
Q : Your Jeep was on attached-duty’ with the truck after you came out of the cantonment.
A : Both the vehicles were on
9 : Where did the truck and the Jeep meet at the canton-me,X : The jeep and the truck were in adjacent garages. I was asked to follow the truck.
Q : There was no need for truck and Jeep in parade.
A : Vehicles were required during parade.
Q : You came out with Jeep and truck for parade duty on that ni^ht.
Q : Was there any map of the Dhaka city during the parade duty.
A: No.
Q : Were you informed of where the parade duty will take place.
A: No.
Q : Was there any Joint-parade of lancer and artillery on that night.
A : I don’t know.
Q : How far was the garage from the Lancer's parade ground.
A : The garage was beside the ground.
Q : Did you ever tell the police that you want to be an wit-
ness of this case.
A : No.
Q : You don't know how police has made you an witness.
A : No.
Q :Do you say prayer.
A : Yes.
Q : How did you say fazr prayer on August 15.
A : I didn't say my prayer on that day.
Q : Did any of soldiers of the truck and jeep asked for stopping the vehicles to say their prayer?
A: No.
Q : The time for prayer was over when you reached the Mlrpur Road near Road-32.
A : There was twilight when we reached there and we didn't say our prayer.
Q : You don't use watch.
A: No.
Q : During the time of prayers, you see watch or sky.
A : I say my prayer after hearing azan.
Q : You were on the eastern said of Road-32 and the road straight went to the west and there was turning or car.
A : It was seen straight.
Q : The length of the lake is bigger from east to west or north to south.
A : North-south.
c Qi t Ooi' Karooque was: your officer before the incident and you knew him.
i Wfis ALD Slrajul Huq at Road-32 crossing.
A : I saw him when 1 went there with the breakfast, but I didn't see him when I went there after dawn.
Q : Did you see any millitary truck in front of the gate of Bangabandhu's house when you went there first time or until you were there.
A : I saw a truck far away. At the western end of the road, not in front of Bangabandhu's house.
Q : Did you see any other vehicle other then the truck?
A : No.
Q : You have given a false witness fearing that police would implicate you as an accused.
A : So far my knowledge goes I did not tell any lie.
Q : You did not see any tank at Road-32.
A: I saw.
Q : Did you give any explanation to the military authority till you were in Job for coming out of the cantonment on August 15 or about the incident.
A: No. -UNB
Further texts of cross examination will be published as and when received.