BDR Carnage Case
Court dissatisfied over facilities
As the metropolitan session judge's court, trying the 850 accused in a BDR carnage case, is not facilitated like other session judges' courts, the lawyers often face various problems, defence counsels told the court yesterday.
Echoing their claim, the court also expressed dissatisfaction over the facilities provided to the court set up temporarily at the playground of Alia Madrasa in the city's Bakshibazar.
They expressed their dissatisfaction following cross-examination of a witness by the defence counsel Aminul Islam at the first hour of the court proceeding.
“I have informed the president, the prime minister and the chief justice about the problems but no result is [yet to be] found. The court is run by Allah,” said the judge.
“I have conducted many session judges' courts, but never faced problems like this,” the judge added.
He, however, did not elaborate the problems and requested the lawyers to carry on the court proceeding within the existing limitations.
Aminul claimed that in the name of security, on-duty police often misbehave with the lawyers.
“We couldn't park our cars on the playground next to the court. Besides, our juniors and clerks are not permitted to enter the court,” he said adding it is a free court and lawyers should be allowed to work here in a regular way.
He said police should check their identity without any hassle.
A commotion outside the court premises occurred between police and lawyers over a trifling matter yesterday noon. The problem was later settled with the interference of the state counsel.
Earlier, Aminul, counsel for deputy assistant directors (DAD) Towhid and Nasir, alleged that the 11th witness of Pilkhana carnage Maj Sujaul Haq Sujaul went to the court after influencing IO Abdul Kahar Akhand as per the instruction of former army chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed.
Sujaul categorically denied the allegation.
One of the civilian accused, Rahima Begum, charged for keeping looted goods, got bail on December 1 from High Court (HC). Defence lawyer yesterday submitted the order of HC to the court. So far, four people got bail while lawyers submitted petition for bail of another 23 accused of the case.
The court will resume this morning with the deposition of Maj Shah Alam, the 12th prosecution witness.
The two-day mayhem at the headquarters of the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) killed 74 people, including 57 top and mid-ranking army officers.
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