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BANGABANDHU MURDER CASE

Verbatim Text of Cross Examination of 41st Prosecution Witness
(Continued from yesterday)
Following are the excerpts from cross-examination of PW-41 Brig Shahjahan by Advocate Khan Saifur Rahman, defence counsel for Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Farooqur Rahman.
Q You are a man of maintaining silence on others' affairs.
A: Yes. I only do whatever I am asked, to do
Q Did all the COs and OC at tend the conference at 46 Brigade HQ on August 17, 1975.
A: Yes. except 2 Field Artillery.
Q: Did any audit take place of the August 14. 1975 night training?
A: Yes. audit of my unit took place, but I can’t say whether audits took place in Lancer and 2 Field Artillery.
Q: Your 14 August programme concluded at 12 noon
A: There was a tea break at 11 am and the programme concluded at 12 noon.
Q: When did you take preparation for your programme?
A: From August 13 afternoon.
Q: How many soldiers of. your unit take part in the preparation process?
A: Two hundred soldiers. Rest 700 soldiers were in the unit.
Q: With how many soldiers you went to Rajbari at 3 pm on August 14?
A About 25 to 30 soldiers.
Q When did you return home on August 14 night?
A: I left for home at about 10 pm giving the responsibility of the troops in the field to company commandar Lt Anwar.
Q How many soldiers were there under Lt Anwar?
A. About 60 to 70
Q Who is the present defence minister of the country?
A: The Prime Minister Is in charge of the Ministry of Defence.
Q Did you go through your statement, which you gave to the police, before making your deposition in the court?
A Yes. I read It.
Q Was there any discussion about mutiny on August 17 conference?
A: No
Q: Was there any mutiny within the army on August 14/15, 1975?
A: In a simple word no
Q: Did Lt Anwar and few other officers were killed by soldiers following a mutiny in November. 1975?
A: Anwar and some officers were killed by some unruly soldiers between November 3 and 7. 1975
Q Do you think that was a mutiny?
A No. that was not a mutiny. At best that can be said unruM-ness. \
Q: Did those unruly soldiers face any trial?
A: Yes.
Q: When did Lt Col Chowdhury Khalequzzaman go on leave?
A: In the first quarter of Au gust. 1975.
Q Who was given the charge in his absence?
A: Col Amin Ahmed Chowd hury.
Q The August 15 incident was discussed In the August 17 conference at 46 Brigade HQ.
A: Yes.
Q: Col Shafat Jamil narrated the incident in the conference
A Yes. He informed everyone of the incident and said 2 Field Artillery Regiment and 1st Bengal Lancer were involved in the incident
Q: Did he (Jamil) place a report on it or said it verbally
A: Verbally
Q Can a senior be asked questions in a conference.
A: Yes. if there remains any doubt.
Q: Did any of you ask him (Jamil) whether he was In volved in the Incident or not?
A: After hearing him It ap peared that he was not involved and we did not ask him anything about that
Q: Did you give any information to the Army HQ on August 14 to alert them?
A: No. But. I informed 46 Brigade Commandar Col Shafat Jamil.
Q: Was that an alert infer mation?
Q I can't say That was to be decided by the Brigade Commandar
Q Were any proceedings drawn against any commis
sioned officer following the August 15 incident?
A: I don't have knowledge about that.
Q: Can it go out of your memory as it was an incident of distant past?
A: I have said everything that is still in my memoiy. I just can't say what have lost from my memory.
Q: In the August 17 conference. many officers expressed their suspicion about the involvement of Col Safat Jamil in the incident, which you can't recollect now.
A: I still remember none suspected Col Jamil.
Q: Did the authorities asked you for any report on the incident?
A: No. 1 did not tell anyone, except the IO. anything about this case and none asked me anything about it.
Q: Nothing had been asked as you were not involved in the incident
A: Yes. I did not had any involvement in the August 15 incident
Q: You did not had any knowledge of who were involved in the incident.
A: No, personally I do not have any knowledge about it.
Q Do you known where the Rakkhi Bahini was deployed then?
A Yes. I knew
Q: Did DGF1 call you through proper channel to give a statement to the IO of this case?
A: Yes. through proper chanel
Q: Who made you a witness in this case police or DGF1?
A: I cannot say
Q Did you tell the author! ties or the IO that there was no reason for you to be a witness in this case
A No
Q: You have to lie a witness in this case as you are still tn ser-
A: This is not currect.
Excerpts from cross exami nation of Brig Shahjahan by Advocate TM Akbar, defence counsel for Lt Col (retd) Mohi-uddin
Q Do you know that Lt Col Mohiuddin, an accused in this case, is on LPR since November
17. 1996.
A: Yes. I know.
Q: Can the training you had on August '75 be termed as an exercise.
A Yes.
Q: You carried arms and ammunition in the exercise.
A: Yes.
Q: Ater you left for home. 60 to 70 soldiers who were in the field took part in the August 15 incident.
A It is not true.
Q: Were the proceedings of August 17 conference written?
A: I did not get any written proceedings.
Q: Major Aziz said in the conference that "troops of East Bengal were not involved in the killing of Bangabandhu." as an allegation was raised about his involvement in August 15 killing.
A It is not true.
Q: Lt Col Anwar was the CO of 2 Field Atillery on August 17. 1975.
A It is not true.
Q: Lt Col Amin Ahmed Chowdhury fled away just after joining as the CO of your unit and your troops were involved in the August 15 incident.
A: It is not true.
Q: Did you enquire about the rejoicing that had taken place at 11 am on August 15. 1975 after the incident at the 4 Brigade?
A: No. I don't know anything like this
Q: You have involved innocent persons in the incident in your statement.
A: It is not true 1 told the names 1 heard from other officers.
Excerpts from cross-examination of Brig Shahjahan bv Advocate Sharfuddln Mukul, defence counsel for Taheruddin Thakur:
Q: Where was your residence on August 15?
A: Close to Joydevpur Ra jbari.
Q Your village home was not far off.
A: Yes.
— UNB
Further text of cross-examt-nation shall be published as and when received.