US deports an accused
The United States yesterday deported to Dhaka a charge-sheeted accused in a case filed in connection with an attempt to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 1989.
In response to a notice issued through Interpol, the US police, FBI, and Homeland Security Services had arrested Najmul Maksud Murad in Atlanta on February 2, 2012, said CID Special Superintendent Abdul Kaher Akand at a press briefing in the CID headquarters.
He said personnel of Homeland Security Services first took Murad to Washington DC by a plane of Malaysian Airlines and then handed him over to CID around 11:30am (BST).
Murad escaped to USA four months after the Awami League had assumed power in June 1996.
On August 11, 1989, a gang of seven to eight armed youths in two engine-run three-wheelers got to the house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhanmondi around 12:30am, according to the case statement.
It says they fired bullets and hurled grenades at the house to kill Awami League chief Hasina, who was there at the moment. None was injured in the attack.
Meanwhile, in retaliation on-duty police Habilder Jahirul Haque and Constable Zakir Hossain opened fire which made the attackers flee towards the east chanting slogans "Col Faruk zindabad".
Police recovered several bullets of rifle and pistol, and a damaged grenade without the safety pin from the house, says the case statement.
Habilder Jahirul Haque later lodged a case with Dhanmondi police under the explosive acts and penal code in connection with the attack, said CID's Kaher.
Around eight years after the incident, the then Assistant Superintendent of CID Khalek Uzzaman submitted the charge-sheet in the case accusing 16 persons, including Murad, absconding Lt Col Khandaker Abdur Rashid, and executed Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Faruk Rahman and Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda. The latter two were executed for their involvement in killing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Four of the accused in the case are behind bars while six others are now free on bail, said Kaher.
About Murad, the 13th accused in the case, the CID official said he had sought political asylum in the US claiming himself as an activist of Freedom Party, but was denied the privilege.
Murad is also accused in three other cases, including one for murder, filed with Motijheel and Sabujbagh police.
CID sources said Murad, a resident of Shahjahanpur, was involved in criminal activities in Motijheel and Shahjahanpur areas in the capital during the rule of HM Ershad.
He was one of the notorious criminals of that time who used to control gambling at different clubs in Motijheel, railway tenders, and discos at Purbani Hotel allegedly with backing from the then autocratic regime.
Comments