Dhaka: The issue of alleged links of ex-army
general Ziaur Rahman in the murder of Bangladesh founder
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has resurfaced in a court hearing.
As part of the hearing, defence counsels in Bangabandhu
murder trial yesterday referred to earlier confessional
statements of two of their clients, sacked lieutenant
colonels Syed Faruque Rahman and AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, saying
they had links with the then deputy army and later president
Ziaur Rahman ahead of the August 15, 1975 putsch.
Faruque Rahman and Ahmed had indicated that Ziaur Rahman
knew about the plot and though he had expressed his inability
in joining them, he rewarded the coup plotters later with
diplomatic assignments abroad and even pardoned some of the
putsch leaders.
Ahmed`s statement, read out at the Appellate Division of
the Supreme Court, said two top plotters, now detained
Faruque Rahman and absconding ex-lieutenant Abdur Rashid,
however, had refused to accept the offers of diplomatic
assignments.
But, he said Ziaur Rahman however sent them abroad
"without any punishment" after their capture by his loyal
troops.
In his confessional statement Faruque said he had held
several meetings with Ziaur and subsequent interim president
and the then Awami League leader Khondokar Mushtaque Ahmed
along with co-convicts Rashid and fellow ex-lieutenant
colonel Shariful Haque Dalim ahead of the August 15, 1975
coup.
Bureau Report
