Jail authorities asked to explain failure to produce 3 accused

A Dhaka court issued a show cause notice asking the jail authorities to explain why they failed to produce three accused before it yesterday in connection with the case for making an attempt on former premier Sheikh Hasina's life in August, 1989.
Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 Judge Mohammad Israil Hossain passed the order after the jail authorities failed to produce detained Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Faruk Rahman, Lt Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda and Mohammad Shahjahan before the court.
The court fixed March 6 for the next hearing and directed the jail authorities to produce six detainees including Faruk, Huda and Shahjahan on the scheduled date.
Three other arrestees-- Jeorge Miah, Golam Sarwar and Freedom Sohel -- were produced before the court during yesterday's hearing. Of the other accused, Mizanur Rahman, Humayun Kabir, Khondaker Amirul Islam and Gazi Imam Hossain were present.
The court had issued arrest warrant against Lt Col (retd) Abdur Rashid, Zafar Ahmed, Nazmul Maksud, Humayun Kabir (2) and Rezaul Islam who are on the run.
According to the prosecution, a group of Freedom Party activists blasted bombs and fired shots aiming at the house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in an attempt to kill Sheikh Hasina who was staying in the house on August 11 night, 1989. Later, they left the scene by two vehicles chanting slogans 'Faruk-Rashid Zindabad'.
Havildar Jahirul Haque filed a general diary with Dhanmondi Police Station. Later, an investigation was conducted in this regard.
Three accused in the case -- Rezaul, Gazi Liakot and Humayun -- had given confessional statements before magistrates disclosing the names of the others involved in the incident. They said they blasted bombs and fired shots to kill Hasina following directives of Faruk, Rashid and Huda.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) pressed charges against 16 people including Faruk, Huda and Rashid on February 20, 1997. But trial of the case could not begin in the last 11 years due to legal tangles.
The case was transferred to the court on February 17 this year for quick disposal.
Earlier, Huda, Faruk and Rashid were sentenced to death in the Bangabandhu murder case and life term imprisonment in the jail killing case.