Sheikh mujib murder case

Here is an article Dated march 02 1997 in The New Nation.

MUJIB MURDER CASE SENT TO SESSION : PROSECUTION SLAPS ACCUSED.

Staff reporter: It was an ugly scene when an assistant public prosecutor slapped Begum Zobaida Rashid, an accuse in Sheikh Mujib Murder case on Saturday.

The incident took place when the accused persons were being escorted out after the hearing at the court of the chief metropolitan magistrate. However, the prosecution lawyers managed to melt in the crowd before the relatives of the accused persons or police could apprehend him.

The incident stunned the large number of onlookers including the BBC correspondent Frances Harrison who was moved to such an extent that she advised the Awami League activist to behave so that their activities did not obstruct normal process of justice.

The activists of the ruling party organised processions and rallies inside the court premises to demonstrate against the six accused persons who were scheduled to be produced before the court on Saturday. They hurried abusive language at the accused persons when they were brought to the court. Some of them spitted to express their anger against the accused persons.

Incidentally, the number of lawyers was more on the day than before. On the first day of the appearance of the accused persons, only two lawyers stood for their defence. The number rose to 12 on the second day while it rose to about 50 on Saturday which out numbered the prosecution.

The sensational Bangbandhu murder case was transferred to the Dhaka district and session judge to proceed to trial after the six detained accused appeared at the CMM court under tight security.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate AK Shamsul Huq after hearing both the sides. the state and the defence ordered at 2:05 pm that the case records be sent to the session court.

All relevant records as well as petitions moved on Saturday on behalf of different accused persons were sent to the trial court.

Col(RETD) Syed Farooq Rahman and Lt Col (RTD) Sultan Sharier Rasheed Khan filed petitions on Saturday for retraction of their confessional statement made after long police remand.

At 1:45PM , the six accused earlier charge sheeted for the killing along with others who are absconding were produced before the jam packed court under beefed up security. Five platoons of riot police were deployed all the way from Dhaka Central Jail to the CMM Court official sources said.

Others put on the dock are retired army personnel Mohiudddin Ahmed and Abdul Wahab Joardar, Zobaida Rasheed, the wife of fugitive Col (rtd) Khandker Abdur Rasheed and Taheruddin Thakur, former state minister for information.

"HANG THEM ...HANG THE KILLERS of Bhangabandhu" shouted some of the advocates and onlookers in the midst of the crowd in the court.

Few of them were seen spitting at the accused while being taken back to the jail at 2:15 PM.

Senior advocate Serajul Haque who reached the court with POLICE ESCORT: appeared on behalf of the state Mahbubur Rahman stood as defence counsel.

The prosecution counsel Serajul Haque to UNB that there is no congenial atmosphere at the session court to try the sensational murder case. IT NEED A SOLITARY PLACE, He said.

He mentioned that the magistrate and lawyers faced chaotic situation on every production date for the accused.

THE NEW NATION - SUNDAY MARCH 02 1997.