Bangladesh:Gunfight at BDR headquarters

[Straight]

Is he the FIRST culprit or the FIRST casualty of BAL's justice ?......

Jamaat leader Razzaq gets bail in mutiny case
The daily Star Online Report : Sunday, March 29, 2009

The High Court (HC) today (Sunday) granted anticipatory bail till April 5 to Jamaat-e-Islami leader Barrister Abdur Razzaq in connection with the Pilkhana killing case. The court also directed the government not to arrest or harass him in connection with the case during the time.

The Jamaat leader filed two separate petitions seeking bail in this case and challenging legality of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) notice asking him to appear at the CID office at Malibagh in the capital along with his passport at 10:00am on Monday.

Abdul Kahar Akand, senior ASP of the CID and investigation officer (IO) of the case, on March 28 issued a letter asking Razzaq to appear at the CID office for interrogating him in connection with the Pilkhana killing case.

In his bail petition, Razzaq said he has been apprehending that he may be harassed in connection with the case.

In his writ petition, he prayed for staying the operation of the CID notice served on him. But, the court did not stay the operation of the notice. Following the HC order, he will appear at the CID office at 10:00am on Monday as per the notice issued to him.

The court also asked the government authorities to return his passport after interrogating him and examining it. The court also asked the authorities to interrogate Razzaq considering him as a witness of the incident, not as an accused.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[idune]

Jamaat leader Razzaq gets bail in mutiny case
The daily Star Online Report : Sunday, March 29, 2009

From all previous reports Barrister Abdur Razzaq was barred from going to Thailand for seeing his daughter because of war crime agenda.

Even after HC instruction Barrister Abdur Razzaq was denied visiting his daughter. Awami league govt even filed second fabricated case against him for violating immigration rule.

There was no indication even by govt that he was accused of Peelkhana incident. From the face of this news it seems daily star(lie) got into business of fabrication again. There are so many judgements against daily star(lie) for falsifying report for political agenda, so this wouldn't be first one.

Razzak, wife get bail in airport case :: Politics :: bdnews24.com ::

:: The Daily Independent Bangladesh :.. Internet Edition

 

[Straight]

[QUOTE=idune;338361]From all previous reports Barrister Abdur Razzaq was barred from going to Thailand for seeing his daughter because of war crime agenda.

.........

There was no indication even by govt that he was accused of Peelkhana incident. From the face of this news it seems daily star(lie) got into business of fabrication again. There are so many judgements against daily star(lie) for falsifying report for political agenda, so this wouldn't be first one.

Very likely---as also felt by many---he is a casualty of BAL's injustice.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Focus on mutiny beyond Dhaka

Investigators identify abortive attempts at 37 BDR locations; 6 more arrested

After some initial headway in the probe into the Pilkhana carnage, investigators are also training their focus on successive events at different BDR battalions across the country which could have led to a 'civil war'.

The investigators say they have so far identified 37 spots where a group of jawans either mutinied or attempted to do so.

"In many BDR battalion offices a band of soldiers took up arms and ammunition from the arsenals and attempted to commit the same offences that occurred in Pilkhana," an investigator told The Daily Star wishing anonymity.

At the first coordination meeting of BDR at Dhaka Cantonment on March 9, new Director General Brig General Md Mainul Islam listened in details the incidents that occurred at different BDR battalions across the country.

Sources say following that meeting a move to investigate the mutiny in BDR battalions outside Dhaka was initiated and the investigators have almost done their preliminary task.

They have detected 37 spots where in some cases soldiers not only attempted to hold hostage the officers but also came out in the civil areas with arms.

The investigators say they have made a good progress in identifying the mutineers but did not give details.

They add at the coordination meeting with the new DG, army officers from different battalions outside the capital gave a vivid account of mutinies in their jurisdiction.

"These detailed accounts helped us a lot in our investigation and made our primary job done quickly," says an investigator. He adds initially the authorities concerned are planning to file 37 cases with the respective police stations for the mutinies outside Dhaka.

There were some other reasons for the delay behind investigating mutinies elsewhere as all their strength was initially focused on Pilkhana, the investigators argue.

Besides, officers also left their stations for safety and have refrained from joining their respective offices till now.

"We were asked by the higher authorities to leave the office immediately and go to safer places as the mutiny was spreading across the country on February 26," says an army officer. This office was posted to a BDR battalion outside the capital and is staying in Dhaka and discharging his duty over phone since then.

The officer adds many of his colleagues had to leave their battalions or offices following the very tense and insecure situation.

The mutineers came out of their camps and outposts to resist a possible military onslaught in reprisal for bloodshed in Pilkhana.

"At a battalion outside Dhaka some soldiers took up arms from the arsenal to attack the officers following rumours of military attack on the jawans," recalls an officer who was posted outside Dhaka but had to leave on security grounds on February 26.

Though the investigators detected 37 places where mutiny took place, they have yet to name the places until cases are filed in this connection.

Immediate after the mutiny broke out at Pilkhana HQ, tension ran deep across the country as reports of "rebellious behaviour" by BDR jawans started pouring in from Dinajpur, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Rajshahi, Bogra, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kushtia, Thakurgaon, Kanaighat in Sylhet, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Jessore, Satkhira, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Panchagarh, Brahmanbaria and some other places.

Two army officers were held hostage by BDR men in a village in Satkania in Chittagong after they fled Baitul Izzat BDR Training Centre on February 26.

In Rangpur, members of 34 Battalion gathered on Dhaka-Rangpur-Dinajpur Highway, while in Chapainawabganj jawans barricaded Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj-Sonamasjid highways with huge trunks of trees.

Many BDR personnel were supposed to be on duty on the border, but following the mutiny on February 25-26 many were found not only reluctant to discharge their duty but also left the outposts leaving the border unguarded.

Although fears spread that the country might face a 'civil war' if the situation aggravated, finally the mutineers got back to barracks in a great relief to all.

SIX MORE ARRESTED

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday arrested six people --three BDR personnel and three outsiders -- in connection with the Pilkhana carnage.

Besides, the investigators yesterday questioned around 40 jawans who are staying in Pilkhana.

The arrested BDR members are nayek Sheikh Monirul Islam, sepoys Monzurul Alam and Gafur Ali, while the outsiders are Kamal, Mamun and Siraj alias Kalu who were arrested in the capital.

Court sources say all the six were produced before the court with remand prayers and the court granted five-day remand for Monzurul, Kamal, Mamun and Siraj, and seven days for Monirul and Gafur.

CID has so far arrested 765 people in the case filed with Lalbagh Police Station on February 28 and took 119 suspects on remand.

171 BDR MEN DIE IN 3 YRS

A total of 171 personnel of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), including uniformed and civil employees, died of different reasons in last three years from January 1 in 2006 to December 31 in 2008.

The BDR authorities disclosed the information to the media with the view to mitigate the confusion over the recent deaths of 11 BDR members after the mutiny on February 25.

According to a press release issued by the public relations officer on behalf of the director general of the BDR, 104 members died of heart attacks, four of Malaria, 21 in road accidents, two in shootouts along the borders, one from shooting by criminals, one in lightening, 35 died of various diseases, while three others committed suicide during the last three years.

Meanwhile, after the mutiny and since March 9, four BDR members died at Pilkhana, one each in Joypurhat, Rangamati, Barkal, Jaminipara, Sylhet, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Dhaka and at Kidney Hospitral.

:The Daily Star: Internet Edition

 

[BanglaBhoot]

Jamaat leader Razzak to be questioned

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has decided to interrogate top Jamaat-e-Islami leader barrister Abdur Razzaq in order to verify information that indicated his 'involvement' in the carnage at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters on February 25-26.

"We have found some information from various sources on his (Razzaq's) involvement in Pilkhana carnage and therefore, we need to question him to verify the information," Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Abdul Kahar Akond told The Daily Star last night. He however refused to say anything to substantiate the CID claim.

Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kahar asked Razzaq to appear with his passport at CID's Malibagh headquarters at 10:00am today for an exclusive grilling on the carnage.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat leader yesterday filed two separate petitions seeking bail in this case and challenging legitimacy of the notice soon after the CID summoned him.

The HC yesterday granted him anticipatory bail until April 5 in connection with the case and directed the government not to harass or arrest him during this period.

But sources said the CID has a list of some more suspects, including politicians and even a former lawmaker. The investigators would summon them gradually, sources added.

Meanwhile, following Razzaq's petition, a vacation HC bench of Justice Shahidul Islam directed the government to consider him as a witness, not an accused, in the case during the interrogation, and to return his passport after examining it.

Advocate Tajul Islam, one of Razzaq's lawyers, told The Daily Star that Razzaq would show up at the CID office at 10:00am the today, as the HC did not stay the CID interrogation notice.

Razzaq stated in the bail petition that rumours about his involvement in the mutiny had been raised to harass him.

In his writ petition, he prayed for stay on the operation of the CID notice served on him.

During the hearing of the petitions, Razzaq's lawyer Ajmalul Hossain argued before the court that his client had no association with the Pilkhana carnage.

The notice issued for interrogation was to serve political intentions to harass Razzaq. He, like all the other countrymen, is also concerned about the present situation of the country, he said.

He also said the person who has no involvement in any case should not be interrogated.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, who represented the state, told the court that Abdur Razzaq had been asked to appear at the CID office in the interest of the Pilkhana killing case investigation and he should have no problem in facing the interrogation.

Earlier on March 19, immigration police of Zia International Airport (ZIA) filed a criminal case with the Airport Police Station against Abdur Razzaq and his wife Saleha Razzaq Siddiq on charges of obstructing the airport authorities to discharge their duties in the early hours that day.

Abdur Razzaq the same day filed a contempt petition with the HC against the government for preventing him from going to Malaysia and Singapore despite having an HC order allowing him to visit the countries.

The HC upon separate petitions then granted them bail and stayed the proceedings of the obstruction case against them.

The Daily Star - Details News

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please also see my comment on the Daily Star report on their website.

 

[TopCat]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That would be intersting. Lets see what comes out of this....

 

[leonblack08]

Razzaq questioned about his activity during mutiny



The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today questioned Jamaat-e-Islami top leader Barrister Abdur Razzaq where he had been and what had been doing during the February 25-26 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) carnage.

The details of the quizzing were not available immediately.

The Jamaat leader was quizzed nearly a three and an half hours at the CID Malibagh headquarters in connection with the BDR carnage case.

"I was questioned about my whereabouts and activities during the incident at the BDR Pilkhana headquarters, Razzaq told reporters emerging from the CID headquarters around 1:20pm.

The Jamaat assistant secretary general also termed his quizzing in the BDR mutiny case 'politically motivated initiative of the government'.

The CID investigating officers and senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abdul Kahar Akond denied his allegations saying they summoned and quizzed Razzaq on the basis of specific information.

If necessary, they would summon the Jamaat leader again, he added.

Razzaq arrived the CID office around 9:55am.

The CID yesterday decided to interrogate the top Jamaat leader in order to verify information that indicated his 'involvement' in the carnage at the BDR headquarters.

ASP Kahar asked Razzaq to appear with his passport at CID headquarters at 10:00am today for an exclusive grilling on the carnage.

This is for the first time, the CID is quizzing any politician in connection with the BDR mutiny.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[TopCat]

I heard that, he had some SMS communication with the mutineer at that time. Its probably regarding legal assistance and general amnesty thing as some of the BDR wanted to be sure of. But thats my guess...

 

[Straight]

BDR to lose its name, uniform
Restructuring body to submit more proposals soon
Staff Correspondent :The daily Star : Tuesday, 31 March 09

The committee formed to report on restructuring and renaming of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) yesterday submitted a brief initial proposal to the government for changing name and uniform of the paramilitary force.

The four-member body headed by BDR Director General Maj Gen Md Mainul Islam submitted the proposal to Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, assigned to coordinate the BDR-related activities between the Prime Minister's Office, home ministry and defence ministry after the Pilkhana massacre.

"The name and uniform of BDR will be changed. The committee we formed with the BDR director general as its head is still working on it," Faruk Khan told The Daily Star yesterday.

"We have received a brief proposal from the director general. A final proposal will be prepared after fine-tuning the initial proposal," he said.

Replying to a query, the commerce minister said a new force will be constituted disbanding the BDR. Opinions have been sought from various forces and also civil society members for choosing a suitable name and uniform for the border guards.

Earlier, the BDR chief at the Zia International Airport told journalists about submission of the proposal before leaving for New Delhi to meet the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) chief.

Asked about the fate of the BDR personnel after the disbandment of the existing paramilitary force, Faruk said all the issues will come up before the formation of the new force and the final proposal will include everything.
The committee was formed on March 23 at the third coordination meeting of the members of three committees now probing the carnage and offences committed inside the BDR Pilkhana headquarters.

Our court correspondent adds: Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court yesterday placed on remand eight more suspected BDR mutineers and another person detained in connection with the Pilkhana massacre for questioning.

Havildar Jalal Uddin Ahmed was placed on a seven-day remand and havildars Masud Iqbal, Yusuf Ali, lance nayek Anwarul Islam, nayek Abdul Qaiyum, sepoys Bazlur Rashid, Habibur Rahman and Alim Reza, and outsider Hafizur Rahman were taken on a three-day remand after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigating the mutiny case produced them before the court.

Meantime, the CID arrested five more suspected BDR mutineers but their identities were not divulged.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[Straight]

'Conversation' with Mutineers
Razzaq quizzed
Staff Correspondent : The daily Star : Tuesday, 31 March 2009

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday questioned Jamaat-e-Islami leader barrister Abdur Razzaq for over three hours about his alleged telephone conversations with BDR mutineers on February 25, said sources.

Coming out of the CID's Malibagh headquarters, Razzaq said the government is out to implicate him in the .Pilkhana carnage case to “humiliate him politically”.

Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (CID) Abdul Kahar Akand said, “We have no intention of harassing him. We questioned him on specific information and, if necessary, we might call him again."

He said, “Besides suspected BDR mutineers, we have talked to several people in connection with the carnage."

Talking to The Daily Star, Akand, also investigation officer in the mutiny case, said they summoned the Jamaat leader to verify some information they have about him.

He however would not elaborate on the information “in the interest of a fair probe” into the February 25-26 bloodbath that left dozens of army officials killed.

Investigation sources said CID has prepared a list of persons including a lawmaker for questioning.

Razzaq, Jamaat's assistant secretary general, was in the Malibagh office from 10:00am to 1:15pm. He was quizzed also over his “repeated travels abroad and connections there”.

The sources added that the interrogators decided to summon the Jamaat leader after they became convinced about his conversations with BDR jawans by analysing phone records.

Talking to reporters, the Jamaat leader said, "They [investigators] asked me where I was on February 25 and what I did that day."

Queried if he had any telephone conversations with the BDR jawans or the rebels sought any legal aid from him, he replied in the negative.

"I said I was at the High Court busy doing my job as lawyer. However, I watched the news on television," he said and added, "I told the investigation officer that the BDR carnage was an attack on our sovereignty, and CID must find out the reasons behind that without humiliating anyone.”

The Jamaat leader said despite the High Court's instructions, he was repeatedly barred from leaving the country. He described the case filed against him with the Airport Police Station as false.

He said his wife had an appointment with doctors in a Singapore hospital on March 19. The High Court granted him and his wife anticipatory bail and stayed the case proceedings.

“Riled by failure in the legal battle, the government has resorted to harassing me. That's why CID asked me to appear before them with my passport,” he observed.

Razzaq said people at home and abroad have condemned the government's preventing him from going abroad.

Replying to a query, he said he loves Bangladesh. It is his motherland and there's no question of fleeing it. “It is illogical, unjust and inhuman to stop me leaving the country.”

Meanwhile, talking to reporters at the CID headquarters, Special Superintendent (Dhaka Metro) of CID Nasirul Arif said they did not interrogate Razzaq as an accused in the BDR case, rather they asked him some questions on specific information.

The questioning was done in compliance with the court's directives in this regard, he continued.

““We have taken his personal profile. If necessary we'll ask him for more information.”

In reply to a question, Arif said many people have been questioned and many more would be quizzed in future.

Asked if summoning barrister Razzaq had anything to do with his political identity, ASP Abdul Kahar Akand said, “No. we just asked him some questions in connection with the BDR killing case.”

Earlier on Saturday CID summoned the Jamaat leader to appear before it with his passport yesterday.

Razzaq went to the HC, seeking directives against the CID notice.

In response to Razzaq's petition, a vacation bench of the HC on Sunday directed the government to consider him as a witness, not an accused, and return his passport after examining it.

FARUK KHAN

Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan yesterday said the investigators are questioning those who are suspected of involvement in the BDR carnage, and they will question some other persons both at home and abroad.

He said the government might request Interpol's support to quiz those abroad.

The minister, who is assigned to coordinate activities of the Prime Minister's Office and probe bodies regarding the Pilkhana massacre, was talking to journalists after a function celebrating the sliver jubilee of ActionAid Bangladesh at the National Museum.

Asked about allegations of political harassment in the name of questioning, he said, "I think only those who had a hand in the mutiny are making these allegations."

Faruk Khan also said, "A few more days are needed to complete a fair and impartial probe into the BDR killings."

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[BanglaBhoot]

I heard that, he had some SMS communication with the mutineer at that time. Its probably regarding legal assistance and general amnesty thing as some of the BDR wanted to be sure of. But thats my guess...

They want legal assistance and they go to Barrister Razzak? Are there not enough other Barristers to take on their cases? What about Barrister Amir-ul-Islam or Taposh both of the AL? I find the accusations against Razzak preposterous and a diversionary tactic of the government. It seems that political repression in Bangladesh will increase and the AL will use the mutiny to carry out its targeting of opposition members as an excuse and implicate them in cases. This Awami League is no different from the AL of Sheikh Mujib and will probably meet the same fate.

 

[Straight]

I heard that, he had some SMS communication with the mutineer at that time. Its probably regarding legal assistance and general amnesty thing as some of the BDR wanted to be sure of. But thats my guess...

BDR mutiny: Razzak questioned for three hours
'Many big guns in list for interrogation’
The daily New Nation :Tuesday March 31 2009 00:39:58 AM BDT

A number of big shots are likely to be interrogated in connection with last month's carnage at the Peelkhana BDR headquarters. Nesarul Arif, police superintendent of the CID and in charge of the case, said yesterday that a good many people may be required to be questioned in the interest of the case."(The New Nation)

A lot of big guns we may need to quiz as the case unfolds," Nesarul told reporters after grilling Jama'at-e-Islami leader Abdur Razzak at the CID headquarters yesterday.

Meanwhile, The high-powered committee probing the rebellion in the paramilitary force has found clues of "third party" involvement in the bloodbath.

The investigation found clues of "outsiders" entering at BDR's Pilkhana headquarters ahead of the February 25-26 massacre in which 75 people including 54 army officers were killed.

"The committee members think the clues of outsiders' entry into Pilkhana, t serial killings, tortures on family members of the officers at their residences and tracking the army officers by the murderers down at their hiding places indicate that there was a third party involvement in the incident," said a member preferring anonymity.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday questioned Jamaat-e-Islami leader Barrsiter Abdur Razzak for more than three hours in connection with the February 25-26 massacre at BDR headquarters.

.....Asked whether he had telephonic conversation with rebel BDR jawans or whether the rebels sought legal aid from him, Barrister Razzak said he had no conversation with BDR personnel. He said he was at the High Court at the time of mutiny.......

The New Nation - Internet Edition

 

[idune]

Razzaq questioned about his activity during mutiny




The Jamaat leader was quizzed nearly a three and an half hours at the CID Malibagh headquarters in connection with the BDR carnage case.

"I was questioned about my whereabouts and activities during the incident at the BDR Pilkhana headquarters, Razzaq told reporters emerging from the CID headquarters around 1:20pm.

The Jamaat assistant secretary general also termed his quizzing in the BDR mutiny case 'politically motivated initiative of the government'.

The CID investigating officers and senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abdul Kahar Akond denied his allegations saying they summoned and quizzed Razzaq on the basis of specific information.

If necessary, they would summon the Jamaat leader again, he added.

Razzaq arrived the CID office around 9:55am.

The CID yesterday decided to interrogate the top Jamaat leader in order to verify information that indicated his 'involvement' in the carnage at the BDR headquarters.

ASP Kahar asked Razzaq to appear with his passport at CID headquarters at 10:00am today for an exclusive grilling on the carnage.

This is for the first time, the CID is quizzing any politician in connection with the BDR mutiny.

The Daily Star - Details News

Razzak seeks end to mudslinging over mutiny

Tue, Mar 31st, 2009 5:06 pm BdST

Dial 2324 from your mobile for latest news
Dhaka, Mar 31 (bdnews24.com)—Jamaat-e-Islami's assistant secretary general Abdur Razzak Tuesday urged political parties to stop maligning each other over the Peelkhana massacre.

"Mudslinging in the name of probing BDR killings has to be stopped. We all should stay united and ensure that the perpetrators are punished," Razzak, a lawyer, said at a press briefing in his Naya Paltan chamber Tuesday.

He said, the Supreme Court upheld Tuesday the High Court order granting him anticipatory bail in the Peelkhana carnage case up to April 5 and ordering the government not to harass or arrest me up to that date.

"I never spoke to any BDR personnel or officer on February 25-26 or prior to or after the carnage. The CID did not ask me anything about that," said Razzak.

"They did not show me any list of phone numbers either. Yet some newspapers have purposively raised questions of my involvement in the BDR killings by publishing baseless and false stories, which I've no knowledge of.

He said the CID questioned him about his studies, phone numbers of his wife and self, family, bank accounts, whereabouts on Feb 25-26 mutiny, foreign travel.

Asked why the CID did not ask him about Peelkhana killings, Razzak said, "I told the CID what whatever they wanted to know. Please go ask them why they [did not ask]."
He said the CID can interrogate any citizen as a witness to any public incident. He cited the example of the British prime minister Tony Blair after the 9/11 disaster.

"We have to unite on this issue today. If it's possible for cricket, why not for this crucial happenings? This involves the independence and sovereignty of the country!"

He said it was 'mysterious' for the CID to question him while two cases involving embargo on his going abroad were on trial.

Razzak seeks end to mudslinging over mutiny :: :: bdnews24.com ::

 

[idune]

Razzaq questioned about his activity during mutiny

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This is for the first time, the CID is quizzing any politician in connection with the BDR mutiny.
The Daily Star - Details News

As with tradition of daily lie at the end of the article daily star included a lie for public. We all know Awami league politician Torab has been arrested and in custudy of police as one of the main organizer of Peelkhana massacre. Torab son also involved in Awami league politics is stll wanted in the messacre case.

Jahagir Kabir Nanok Awami league junior minister and Mirza Azam (brother in law of ex JMB chief Abdur Rahman) Awami league whip in Parliament (among other Awami league politicians) wanted by army investigators for questioning but denied access by Awami League govt.

Off late this duo Nanok and Azam who were regular in media including presenting award to Hasian for Pheelkhana messacre performance, disappeared from scene. Perhaps Sunita Paul article was correct these two were preparing to flee. If they have indeed fled we know what is their favorite destination for hiding - India. During the tenure of Interim govt while wanted by law enforcement, Nanok and Azam were hiding in India for two years.

But biggest of all, Prime minister Hasian's own son Sajeeb Wazed Joy should be questioned by investigators in relation to Peelkhana massacre. He had decleared his venom and propaganda against army and Bangladesh defense forces in his writings, in line with Awami League, nefarious RAW and Indian media. That is obvious motive by any standard for a person with his reach in power as Prime minister son and advisor.

 

[HK-47]

any info about the army led investigation?I am not giving any value to the govt probe for the time being.