Babar sent to TFI cell for quizzing

The Criminal Investigation Department yesterday sent detained former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar to the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell for quizzing in the August 21 grenade attack case.

The same day CID interrogated Shamsul Islam, former deputy inspector general of the Special Branch, and Superintendent of Police Mostofa Kamal of the Armed Police Battalion.

Shamsul was acting SB chief in absence of the then chief additional inspector general of police Abdul Kaiyum and Mostofa Kamal was additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Motijheel zone when grenade blasts at an Awami League rally killed 24 people and injured scores on August 21, 2004.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a CID official said Shamsul was summoned to their Malibagh headquarters and questioned after Babar claimed he first learnt about the August 21 carnage from the former DIG.

He said the officials grilled Shamsul and Mostofa for hours. Besides questioning them separately, they brought the two face to face with Babar.

In another development, the official added, detained Huji founder Sheikh Abdus Salam had linked one Monir to a white microbus in which the attackers fled the Bangabandhu Avenue, scene of the August 21 blasts.

CID has launched a manhunt for Monir. One of its teams yesterday conducted raids in the city's Mohammadpur and adjoining areas to hunt him down.

Contacted by The Daily Star, Additional Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdul Kahar Akand, also investigation officer of the case, declined to elaborate on the interrogation of former DIG Shamsul Islam and SP Mostofa Kamal.

He also would not say anything about sending of Babar to TFI.

CID sources said former IGP Shahudul Huq, former DMP commissioner Ashraful Huda and ex-CID chief former additional IGP Farrukh Ahmed too have been summoned for interrogation in the case.

Meanwhile, detained Huji chief Mufti Abdul Hannan was sent to Dhaka Central Jail yesterday after end of his two-day remand.