Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Huji leaders visited Hawa Bhaban several times
Top official of Islamic NGO Rashid tells court about Aug 21 grenade attack
Top official of Al Markajul Islami, Mufti Abdur Rashid, who was picked up and later released by CID confessed before a Dhaka court on Monday that the Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) leaders visited Hawa Bhaban several times using their ambulances and the Islamic NGO funded the Huji activities.
The CID men picked up Vice-chairman of the NGO Rashid on Sunday in August 21 grenade attack case.
However, Al-Markajul Islam at a press conference at its Babor Road office in Mohammadpur in the city yesterday evening claimed that the CID personnel forcibly picked up their Rashid from their office and forced him to sign on papers for statement.
But CID special SP Abdul Kahar Akand, also investigation officer of the case, denied the allegation and said, "Rashid is not an accused [in the grenade attack case]. He gave his statement positively as a witness.”
Mufti Rashid also gave statement before the CID officials on Monday regarding the grenade attack on a rally of Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue in 2004 that left 24 people dead and 300 others injured.
According to the sources, Rashid in the statement said before the attack, he accompanied Huji leaders Abdus Salam, Mufti Hannan, Abu Taher, Sheikh Farid and Sabbir when they went to Hawa Bhaban at Banani by the ambulances of Al Markajul Islami for holding meetings.
"The NGO funded often the Huji leaders for carrying out their activities. The masterminds of the attack also had a series of planning meetings at the NGO's office in the capital and the perpetrators fled the scene in one of its ambulances."
Replying to a query at Al Markajul Islami office yesterday evening, Rashid told The Daily Star, "I was not allowed to see the copies of statement, but the CID official read out the speech to me."
Asked, Rashid said he could not understand why did the Huji leaders mentioned his name to the CID and why did the CID personnel picked up him.
Hailing from Gopalganj district, Rashid said he stayed at Karachi New Town Madrasa in Pakistan from 1985 to 1997, he did not know Huji chief Mufti Hannan, who also stayed there for a long time, as well as he did not know any of the Huji leaders earlier.
Meanwhile, at the press conference, Al Markajul Islami Acting Chairman Mufti Sayeed Nur also said that they are not aware of the reason behind picking up Rashid.
The CID men picked up Vice-chairman of the NGO Rashid on Sunday in August 21 grenade attack case.
However, Al-Markajul Islam at a press conference at its Babor Road office in Mohammadpur in the city yesterday evening claimed that the CID personnel forcibly picked up their Rashid from their office and forced him to sign on papers for statement.
But CID special SP Abdul Kahar Akand, also investigation officer of the case, denied the allegation and said, "Rashid is not an accused [in the grenade attack case]. He gave his statement positively as a witness.”
Mufti Rashid also gave statement before the CID officials on Monday regarding the grenade attack on a rally of Awami League at Bangabandhu Avenue in 2004 that left 24 people dead and 300 others injured.
According to the sources, Rashid in the statement said before the attack, he accompanied Huji leaders Abdus Salam, Mufti Hannan, Abu Taher, Sheikh Farid and Sabbir when they went to Hawa Bhaban at Banani by the ambulances of Al Markajul Islami for holding meetings.
"The NGO funded often the Huji leaders for carrying out their activities. The masterminds of the attack also had a series of planning meetings at the NGO's office in the capital and the perpetrators fled the scene in one of its ambulances."
Replying to a query at Al Markajul Islami office yesterday evening, Rashid told The Daily Star, "I was not allowed to see the copies of statement, but the CID official read out the speech to me."
Asked, Rashid said he could not understand why did the Huji leaders mentioned his name to the CID and why did the CID personnel picked up him.
Hailing from Gopalganj district, Rashid said he stayed at Karachi New Town Madrasa in Pakistan from 1985 to 1997, he did not know Huji chief Mufti Hannan, who also stayed there for a long time, as well as he did not know any of the Huji leaders earlier.
Meanwhile, at the press conference, Al Markajul Islami Acting Chairman Mufti Sayeed Nur also said that they are not aware of the reason behind picking up Rashid.
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