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| Bangladesh |
| Finger pointed at top agency men in Chittagong arms case |
| 2010-02-08 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Md Hafizur Rahman, the prime accused in Chittagong Arms case, in a confessional statement here Saturday night hinted at involvement of the same high officials of intelligence agencies and leaders of United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), as mentioned in his previous confessional statement. He made the statement under section-164 in the arms smuggling case filed under the section-25/B of Special Powers Act, one of the two cases filed in connection with the seizure of the deadly consignment. Hafiz took eight hours since 5:00pm to make the confessional statement before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mahabubur Rahman, who recorded the confession in 43 pages, said the sources. Hafiz made his previous confessional statement under section-164 in arms haul case filed under the section-19 (ka) of Arms Act in March 2 last year that made a remarkable development in the investigation. Contacted, Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Md Muniruzzaman Chowdhury, a senior ASP of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Chittagong zone, refused to disclose any information regarding the confessional statement. However, sources said Hafiz made almost the same confession as he did in the arms haul case and hinted at involvement of the same persons in the case filed in connection with the ten truckloads of firearms and ammunition hauled at Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Company Limited (CUFL) jetty in the early hours of April 2, 2004. In the previous confessional statement Hafiz implicated involvement of high officials of National Security Intelligence (NSI), Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and the CUFL. Investigation following the statement helped CID arrest two former NSI director generals (DGs) Major General (retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury and Brigadier Gen (retd) M Abdur Rahim, former director (security) Wing Commander (retd) Sahab Uddin, former deputy director (technical) Maj (retd) Liakat Hossain, NSI Field Officer Akbar Hossain, former CUFL managing director Mohsin Talukder and General Manager (Admin) Enamul Haq. Besides, the then home secretary Omar Faruk, former chairman of Bangladesh Chemicals and Industries Corporation (BCIC) Brig Gen (retd) Imamuzzaman and a number of government high officials were quizzed in connection with the case. No new name came in Saturday night's confession, sources added. Meanwhile, CID investigators on Thursday made a 7-day remand prayer against former NSI DG Maj Gen (retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury in the arms haul case. The remand prayer was placed before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Chittagong. Hearing of the remand prayer would be held today in the afternoon, said the sources. |
| Posted by:Fred |