1988 Ctg Massacre: Journalists were not allowed at crematorium

Two witnesses yesterday testified before a Chittagong court in a case filed over police firing at a procession of the then Awami League-led alliance that killed at least 24 people in the port city on January 24, 1988 during Ershad regime.

Divisional Special Judge Mir Ruhul Amin recorded the testimonies of a journalist and a lawyer, said public prosecutor Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury.

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Helal Uddin Chowdhury, then senior reporter of the local daily Azadi, told the court that on that very day he was assigned to cover the news of a rally of the AL-led alliance which was supposed to be held at Laldighi Maidan.

When people's procession with a truck carrying AL President Sheikh Hasina reached Old Bangladesh Bank area near the venue, police started charging batons and shooting, he added. The truck helper, Abdul Mannan, was shot dead on the spot, he said. The bodies were first taken to General Hospital and later to Balurdighi crematorium where journalists were not allowed, said Helal.

Advocate Subhash Chandra Lala, former general secretary of Chittagong Bar Association, in his testimony, said hearing the incident he along other lawyers escorted Hasina to Chittagong Court Building near Laldighi Maidan.

On October 14, 1999, CID submitted a supplementary charge sheet accusing eight persons -- then police commissioner Mirza Rakibul Huda, Inspector  Gobinda Chandra Mondal alias GC Mondal, constables Mostafizur Rahman, Pradip Barua, Mamataz Uddin, Shah Md Abdullah, Abdus Salam and Bashir Uddin.