Babar's remand stayed a few hrs after granting

Former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar is being carried on a chair to a Dhaka court yesterday in connection with the August 21 grenade attack case.Photo: StarCourt Correspondent

Several hours after placing the former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar on remand in the August 21 grenade attack case, a Dhaka court yesterday stayed its order upon a High Court directive.

First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ehsanul Haque yesterday passed a five-day remand order around 1:00pm following a 10-day remand prayer by the investigation officer (IO) of the case.

The same court around 6:00pm yesterday stayed the remand order till November 1 after Babar's lawyer submitted a petition stating that the High Court (HC) directed the authorities concerned to interrogate him at jail gate, if necessary.

The court also asked the police officials to send Babar to jail and directed the jail authorities to produce him before this court on November 1.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) produced the former state minister before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) court by a prison van around 12:35pm. He was brought to the conducting court on a chair.

Chief Prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman read out the forwarding report submitted by the IO of the case and prayed for the 10-day remand.

Defence lawyers submitted a petition seeking adjournment of the remand hearing saying that there were not enough documents in their hand and also their senior lawyers, including Rafique-Ul Haque, would join the hearing. But the court rejected the plea.

At one stage, both the prosecution and the defence lawyers became agitated and hurled abusive words on each other that halted the court proceeding for a while.

Later, the court passed the order placing Babar on a five-day remand.

Enraged, over a hundred of BNP backed lawyers who took part in the hearing left the courtroom and brought out a procession on the court premises that halted proceedings of several courts.

FORWARDING REPORT

In the forwarding report to the court on Monday, the IO, also CID's Additional Superintendent of Police, said former deputy minister and BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu while on remand told the interrogators that Babar gave administrative support to the Awami League rally attackers.

Following his directives the investigation officers of the case arrested several people including Joj Miah and forced them to make confessional statements.

The report said Babar and other accused in the case were involved in supplying the grenades hurled at the AL rally on August 21, 2004 that left 23 people dead and 300 others injured.

While on remand, Harkatul Jihad (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan also disclosed Babar's involvement in the grenade attack.

Babar needs to be placed on remand to glean information about the grenade suppliers and patrons of the attackers, added the IO.

Police filed two cases -- one for murder and another under the Explosive Substances Act -- with Motijheel Police Station a day after the grenade attack.

But on August 3, 2009, a speedy trial tribunal ordered further probe into the cases following petitions filed by the prosecution seeking fresh investigation.

HIGH COURT ORDER

The High Court yesterday directed the authorities concerned to interrogate Babar at the jail gate regarding August 21 grenade attack case, if necessary.

The HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Hussain and Justice Md Rais Uddin passed the order upon a petition filed by Babar praying for direction for the police officials to interrogate him at the jail gate in any case filed against him.

Babar filed the petition stating that he was seriously ill and he might be tortured during remand, which would put his life in danger.

Sources said the attorney general's office has prepared an appeal to file with the Supreme Court against the HC order.

BACKGROUND

On march 5 this year, a Dhaka court sent Babar to jail for the second time on his surrender. He sought bail in an arms case in which he was later sentenced to 17 years' rigorous imprisonment.

He had earlier been arrested on charge of corruption on May 28, 2007 but later was released on bail.

A tribunal on October 30, 2007 sentenced Babar to 17 years' rigorous imprisonment for possessing illegal arms and ammunition at his Gulshan residence in 2007.

The HC on October 16 last year granted Babar a six-month bail in the case on health grounds following an appeal against the verdict of the trial court.

However, the Supreme Court on October 23 revised the HC order and granted Babar bail for three months asking him to surrender before the trial court within the time.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed a case against Babar with Ramna Police Station on October 4, 2007 for taking Tk 21 crore in bribe to drop murder charge against Bashundhara Group chairman's son.

He was also accused of amassing wealth illegally and concealing wealth information from the ACC.