Appeal to court for further investigation
An appeal was made before the Sessions Judges court here yesterday for further investigation into the sensational smuggling in of 10 truckloads of sophisticated firearms in Chittagong in 2004.
Joint forces comprising police and coast guard seized 10 truckloads of firearms and ammunition including submachineguns, AK- 47 rifles, rocket shells and launchers, 2,000 grenades and 3 lakh bullets when those were being unloaded at the jetty of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) on the other bank of Karnaphuli river on the night of April 2, 2004.
This was the biggest ever arms haul that created sensation across the country and appalled all sections of people. After the seizure, many people said such a huge consignment of sophisticated arms can not be smuggled into the country without the knowledge and backing of some officials and godfathers.
Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Humayun Kabir Rassel made the appeal before the court of Chittagong Metropolitan Session Judge AKM Anwar Hossain yesterday.
The court fixed January 27 for hearing the appeal for further investigation into the case.
The arms and ammunition stuffed in 1,500 wooden boxes were seized while being unloaded from two engine boats -- MV Khazar Dan and FB Amanat-- at the CUFL jetty. Those were unloaded by the engine boats from a mother vessel anchored at the outer anchorage of the port.
After unloading, the arms and ammunition were loaded in stand-by trucks by cranes.
A total of 33 of the 44 accused in the case were released on bail. Only two 'prime accused'--Hafizur and Hajee Sobhan--are now in jail while eight others are absconding for long. One of the accused died.
Of the 114 prosecution witnesses (PW), only 30 have so far submitted depositions before the court, which declared another seven PWs 'hostile' for giving 'irrelevant statements'.
Kabir Uddin Ahmed, the then assistant superintendent of CIP (Criminal Investigation Department) police, on June 14, 2004 submitted the charge sheet in the case.
The charge sheet in such a sensational arms case, submitted in about two months, became a talk of the town. Many observers said it was an 'eyewash to save the real culprits'.
After the recovery, the CID filed two casesone under the Arms Act and the other for smuggling. Though two cases were filed, the accused were by and large the same people, sources had said earlier.
The charge sheet submitted on June 14, 2004 did not give any indication about people involved in the smuggling and destination of the arms.
The appeal made yesterday has given emphasis on identifying the people behind the smuggling and destination of the firearms.
The fresh investigation should be done by a committee headed by CID, it said, according to the sources.
Seeking anonymity, CID sources said such a massive arms smuggling that sent alarm signals beyond the country should be properly investigated to save the image of Bangladesh abroad. The real culprits should be identified and arrested, they said.
Comments