Huda, Faruk not produced in court

A Dhaka court yesterday could not frame charges against Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Faruk Rahman, Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda and 13 other people in connection with a case filed for making an attempt on Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's life in August 1989.
Judge Mohammad Israil Hossain at Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 set March 12 as the new date for charge framing after the jail authorities failed to produce Faruk and Huda before the court on security grounds.
The jail authorities, meantime, explained to the court why they could not turn in Faruk and Huda to the court on March 2 in connection with the case. The court served a show-cause notice on the authorities on March 2 in this regard.
The explanation, sent to the public prosecutor, said adequate security is required to escort condemned prisoners to court, but armed police security was not available on that day.
As the two condemned convicts could not be produced before the court twice in a week on security reasons, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner submitted an application to the home secretary yesterday, seeking the trial of the accused at a special court adjoining Dhaka Central Jail.
Four other arrestees -- Mohammad Shahjahan, Jeorge Miah, Golam Sarwar and Freedom Sohel -- were produced before the court. Four people, who posted bail in the case -- Mizanur Rahman, Humayun Kabir, Khondaker Amirul Islam and Gazi Imam Hossain -- were present during yesterday's hearing.
The five other accused -- Lt Col (retd) Abdur Rashid, Zafar Ahmed, Nazmul Maksud, Humayun Kabir (2) and Rezaul Islam -- are on the run.
According to the prosecution, a group of Freedom Party activists hurled bombs and fired shots on the house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 11 night in 1989 in a bid to kill Sheikh Hasina who was staying in the house at the time. Later, they left the scene on two vehicles chanting 'Faruk-Rashid Zindabad' slogan.
Havildar Jahirul Haque filed a general diary with Dhanmondi Police Station. Later, an investigation was conducted in this regard.
Three accused in the case had given confessional statements to magistrates disclosing the names of others involved in the incident. They said they opened fire and exploded bombs to kill Hasina on Faruk, Rashid and Huda's orders.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) pressed charges against 16 people including Faruk, Huda and Rashid on February 20 in 1997. But the trial could not begin in the last 11 years due to legal tangles.
The case was transferred to the present court on February 17 this year for quick disposal.
Earlier, Huda, Faruk and Rashid were sentenced to death in the Bangabandhu murder case and were given life imprisonment in the jail killing case.