A newspaper report that quoted Lt Col Syed Farooq Rahman as saying. "I helped to kill Mujib. dare you put me on trial’’ was produced in the District and Sessions Judge's Court during the hearing of tne Bang-bandhu Murder Case yesterday, reports UNB.
The statement of Farooq, one of the 19 accused persons in the case, was published by the Sunday Times. London, nine months after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mu-jibur Rahman on August 15.
1975.
The prestigious newspaper on May 30. 1976 published a news item on its 11th page under heading "I Helped to Kill Mujib, Dare You Put Me on Trial." on the basis of a statement of Farooq sent to it. The statement carried signature of Farooq.
The newspaper also published two passport-size pho-
tographs under captions "Farooq: Plotter" and "Mujib: Victim.”
A copy of the newspaper was submitted to the court when it resumed hearing of the case after a week’s recess.
Azlzul Haq. prosecution witness No 58 who is a counselor at Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon, also submitted a video copy of Interviews of Col Farooq and co-accused Col Khan-daker Abdur Rashid taken by Anthony Maskarenhass for Grenada Television. Rashid and 13 other accused persons in the case remained fugitives.
Haq was Director (Personnel) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when investigation in the case was going on and he supplied the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) the copies of the Sunday Times and the video.
He told the court that he collected the copies through the
Bangladesh High Commission in London following a request by the CID Investigators. The video copy was taken from Grenda Film Library.
Judge Kazi Golam Rasul asked Farooq Rahman sitting in the dock if ne had issued the statement published in Sunday Times.
"I can’t read it now as I am not carrying my reading glass ... I can tell you tomorrow," replied Farooq with a smile apparently hiding his nervousness.
His counsel Khan Saifur Rahman submitted that Farooq is not required to oblige the court as he had already pleaded not guilty. Farooq has also opportunity to make his own statement. Prosecution lawyer Ramzan All Khan supported him.
Earlier, the court recorded deposition of prosecution wit-
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ness No 56 Mohammad Shafi-ullah. Inspector of Police and prosecution witness No 57 Mohammad Daud Ali. assistant secretary of the Foreign Ministry.
Shafiullah said as officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi thana he recorded the case in connection with killings at Dhanmondi 32 on August 15. 1975 lodged by Mohitul Islam on October 2. 1996.
"The plaintiff had mentioned the reason for the delay in filing the case," he said adding that Mohitul in the eja-har described what happened at the residence of the then President from 4:30 am to 8 am on that day.
Shafiullah further told the court that earlier on August 31. 1996 he received a written alle-eation on the killing of Banga-andhu and others from two persons — M Talduddin and M Mohsinul Haq.
"I didn't take it as a regular case as decision of the government on the iss killing was needed. For this I accepted the allegation and sent it to my
higher authorities." he said replying to the defence counsel.
The PW-57 Daud Ali said he. as an assistant secretary of the Establishment Department of the Foreign Ministry, had supplied the CID seven files on orders of his Director. He also deposited those to the court.
Of those, six are personal files of the army officers who were absorbed in the foreign service after the August 15 killing. They are: Major Shari-ful Haq Dalim, Major Abdul Aziz Pasha, Major Ahmad Sharful Hasan. Major M Khairuzzaman (his file was not submitted to the court as he is not an accused in the case). Major A K M Mohiuddin Ahmed (Lancer) and Major A M Rashed Chowdhury.
Replying to defence lawyer, the witness told the court that he didn't supply the personal file of another accused in the case Lt Col (retd) Sultan Shahriyar Rashid Khan as it was not sought by the CID personnel.
The court will resume hear-ing at 9:30 am today.