Mosharraf testifies in case over death of 24

Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain narrated to a Chittagong court yesterday details of the police firing on a procession surrounding Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina which left 24 people dead during the regime of military dictator HM Ershad.

Testifying as the 37th prosecution witness in the case before Divisional Special Judge Mir Ruhul Amin, he told journalists afterwards that Hasina was on a truck heading towards a rally in Chittagong city's Laldighi Maidan from the airport on January 24, 1988.

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There was a sea of people and no police escort; the firing, along with charging of baton, occurred near court building area and lawyers had escorted Hasina to the building, he said.

The AL had taken permission from Muslim High School to use the venue and he was seriously injured, said Mosharraf, adding, “I have seen many wounded and dying.”

Advocate Shahidul Huda filed the case with a Chittagong court on March 5, 1992. Police submitted a charge sheet against 47 persons on May 14, 1998.

The court directed Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct further investigation. CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Kader Khan on October 14, 1999 submitted the supplementary charge sheet accusing eight persons.

They are the then police commissioner Mirza Rakibul Huda, inspector Gobinda Chandra Mondal alias GC Mondal and constables Mostafizur Rahman, Pradip Barua, Mamataz Uddin, Shah Md Abdullah, Abdus Salam and Bashir Uddin.