Cross-examination of 5th prosecution witness ends

Cross-examination of Lt Col Abdul Mukim Sarkar, the fifth prosecution witness to 2009 Pilkhana headquarters carnage, completed at a makeshift court in the city yesterday.
The Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court at Bakshi Bazar also started recording witness deposition of the sixth prosecution witness in the case, Maj Rezaul Mostafa Mohammad Asadullah.
The recording of Maj Rezaul's deposition will continue, as the court yesterday adjourned its proceedings till November 23 after the witness said a few words about him including his identity, his posting during the mutiny, and his present position.
During the near seven hours' proceedings of the court starting at 9:30am with a half-hour interval, defence lawyers of 12 accused and an accused himself cross-examined Lt Col Mukim Sarkar.
On November 2, Mukim narrated to the court how the rebels of BDR, now Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), forced him to issue a written statement in their favour for publicity outside Pilkhana during the 2009 mutiny and carnage.
During the cross-examination yesterday, a defence counsel asked the witness whether he withdrew the statement he made in favour of the accused jawans during the mutiny. In reply, the witness said he did not do that, as the authority did not order him to withdraw the statement.
A total of 74 people including 54 top and mid-ranking army officers, who were serving the border security force on deputation, were killed in the February 25-26 mutiny and carnage in Pilkhana.