Ex-NSI chief appeals to be discharged

Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim, former director general of National Security Intelligence, yesterday appealed to a Dhaka court to be discharged of the August 21 grenade attack cases.
Counsel for Abdur Rahim submitted the discharge petition yesterday as Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 resumed the sixth day of charge framing hearing against 52 accused in the cases.
Rahim was implicated in the cases as part of a conspiracy to harass him, said the petition.
However, Syed Rezaur Rahman, chief prosecutor, told the court that specific allegation was brought against Rahim on the basis of circumstantial evidence derived from witnesses during further investigation of the cases.
On the fifth day of the hearing on Monday, four others accused, including Islamic Democratic Party Ameer Sheikh Abdus Salam, appealed to the court to be discharged.
On October 13, 17 and 23, counsels for former inspector general of police Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, Lt Commander (Retd) Saiful Islam Duke, BNP Senior Vice-President Tarique Rahman, Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, and Huji leader Maulana Abu Taher appealed to be discharged.
Thirty-two accused, now in jail custody, were produced before the court yesterday while Tarique and 18 others are absconding.
Another accused, Ariful Islam Arif, former DCC counsillor, on bail was also present at the court.
Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the tribunal fixed November 13 for the next charge framing hearing.