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U-turn from verdict

Prosecution suddenly seeks to probe Manzoor murder further, new judge obliges

Court Correspondent
A Dhaka court yesterday ordered further probe in the Cen Manzoor murder case though it was at the final stage of trial.
It also directed the Criminal Investigation Department to submit a probe report by April 22.
The latest court order would further delay the trial of the long-drawn-out case that saw changes of 22 judges in its 19-year proceedings, say lawyers involved in the case.
Khondker Hasan Md Firoz, who recently got the charge of the First Additional District and Sessions Judge's Court dealing with the case, gave the order in response to a petition from the prosecution.
In the petition submitted during the closing arguments yesterday morning, Special Public Prosecutor Asaduzzaman Khan Rochi sought further investigation in the case, citing some flaws and inadequacies in the charge sheet and exclusion of some
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important witnesses.
Former military dictator HM Ershad, prime accused in the case, was present at the court with co-accused Maj (retd) Kazi Emdadul Haque and Lt Col (retd) Mostafa Kamaluddin Bhuiyan.
The court proceedings against two other accused - Maj Gen (retd) Abdul Latif and Lt Col (retd) Shamsur Rahman Shams - were stayed following a H igh Court order.
Ershad's counsel Sheikh Muhammad Serajul Islam opposed the petition, saying there was no need for further investigation in the case after 19 years of trial.
"It was a bad attempt of the government to delay the trial of the case ... this petition submitted by the prosecution is to be rejected," Serajul told the court.
He also blamed a section of print and electronic media for running news reports on the Manzoor murder without following the norms of journalism.
Serajul also appealed to the court not to allow any journalists in the courtroom.
In response, the court asked the media to run correct and authentic news.
The case was filed on August 28, 1995 during the tenure of the then BNP-led government, and the trial began after the Awami League-led government came to power in 1999.
There was no significant progress in the case since then. But it suddenly gathered momentum in July last year after Ershad refused to extend support to the AL-nominated mayoral candidate in the Gazipur City Corporation election.
At that stage, both the prosecution and the defence placed their arguments.
Hearing of the case resumed in November. And on completion of hearing on January 22, the court fixed February 10 for delivering the verdict.
However, the Dhaka district judge transferred Judge Begum Hosne Ara Aktar dealing with the case on January 29. She was replaced by Judge Firoz.
Maj Gen Abul Manzoor was killed at Chittagong Cantonment on June 1, 1981, just two days into the assassination of the then president Ziaur Rahman.
Manzoor, who was commander of Sector-8 during the Liberation War, was believed to have executed the abortive Chittagong coup in which Zia was killed.