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PW-15 tells court

Govt of few army officers was installed on Aug 15

By Staff Correspondent
one of the three ADC's to the President. He was in that post fill 1976.
Cross-examination of Commodore Rabbani was completed yesterday. Of the lawyers of the five accused in custody, two cross-examined him while three others declined. Earlier, he was cross-examined by the lawyers of the state defence.
During the days proceedings, Maj (retd) M Shahidullah, PW-16 also completed his deposition before the court.
Commodore Rabbani, who is now a Director in the Directorate of Filed Intelligence, during his cross-examination by lawyers of state defence also said he did not make any telephonic contact at the residence of Bangabandhu when he heard about the attack on his house.
He also said that he did not contact the Chief of Army Staff over phone to apprise him of the attack at the President's residence.
Commodore Golam Rabbani, 15th prosecution witness in Bangabandhu murder case, said yesterday that a "government of few army officers" was installed following the incident of August 15. 1975. although he was not aware of the form of the government.
"I could well understand a change in the government because of the programmes at the Bangabhaban on August 15. 1975. It was a government of few army officers but 1 was not aware of its form,” the PW-15 told the Court of District and Sessions Judge. Dhaka, during his cross-examination.
“The installation of the cabinet took place in mypres-ence." he said adding. "Those who were sworn in an ministers in the new government were also ministers in the previous BKSAL government."
On August 15. 1975. when the then President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was
killed. Rabbani was serving as Khan Saifur Rahman asked Rabbani, whether he considered taking security guards along with arms and ammunition while going to the residence of the President where firing was going on.
In his reply Rabbani said. The President had a scheduled programme at the University on that day and we did not consider those to be appropriate then. We rather thought, students belonging to the opposition camp were trying to create resistance to his programme and were exploding crackers there. We preferred plain clothes thinking that going there in uniforms might create some problem."
When the lawyer asked whether he verified the information from the place of occurrence, the PW-15 replied in the negative. The Military Secretary (MS) had already received necessary information over telephone, he said and added that he did not know whether the MS received the information from the place of occurrence or from any other source.
"I served under the BKSAL ijovernment immediately be-ore the incident. I did not make any attempt to continue the BKSAL government as I was too small a fry.'
Chiefs of the three services were present at the Bangabha-ban during installation of the new government but there was none to represent the Rakkhi Bahini, he said.
To a question from Rezzak Khan the lawyer of accused Shahriar. the PW-15 said, "I am not aware whether the country was continuously under Martial Law from August '75 till '79.
"I am not aware whether any court of inquiry was constituted following the incident of August 15, 1975:
"Personally I did not investigate into the Incident and do not have any direct impression or first hand Information about it.
"Maj Farook had contributed to my personal security when my eyes were blindfolded." he said.
Maj (retd) M Shahidullah. 16th prosecution witness in the Bangabandhu murder case said that he pacified the soldiers who detained three military officers along with the Military Secretary to the President on August 15. 1975.
The PW-16 also said that un-
der instructions from Maj Fa-rook. the second-in-command of his Unit, he had taken the three officers first to the Gan-abhaban then to the Army Headquarters, where he left them.
Shahidullah said he was attending a course on military intelligence when Bangabandhu and his family members were killed. The classes were suspend after the incident and I was ordered to return to our Unit.
"On return to the Unit I reported to the duty officer who ordered me to trace my Unit in the city and join them.
"1 took a lift in a UNICEF vehicle on arrival near Kalabagan bus stand along the Mirpur Road. I found Armour troops and got down from the vehicle. The troops informed me that three officers had been detained and that Moslemuddin had Siven an order to gun down tern.
"I found that hands of the three officers were tied behind their backs and their eyes blindfolded. They were Brig Mashrurul Huq, Military Secretary to the President and Capt Sharif Aziz and Lt Golam Rabbani. both ADCs to the President.
"Then I tried to pacify the troops to save their lives.
"Thereafter I saw Maj Farook coming in a military jeep from the northern side through the road in front of Banga-bandhu's residence.
"When I sought instructions from him regarding these three officers, he ordered me to take them to the Ganabhaban and wait there till further instructions. I removed their blindfolds. untied them and took them to the office of the ADC at the Ganabhaban, Maj Mohiud-din and his troops were also posted at the Ganabhaban at that time.
"From Bangabhaban. a vehicle was sent to the Ganabhaban at about 2:00 pm or 2:30 pm and instructions were sent from Maj Farook to take the three officers to the Army Headquarters.
"I escorted the three officers to the Army Headquarters and then reported to Maj Farook at Bangabhaban. He posted me at the Ganabhaban and ordered me to remain there till next instructions.
"I was promoted to the rank of Captain in April or May 1975 and later Joined a course in army intelligence.