Investigators act on confession of prime accused
Acting on the confession of a prime accused, investigators collected in the last two days the names and addresses of some persons allegedly involved in the smuggling of deadly weapons and ammunition hauled in Chittagong back in 2004.
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials now prepare to interrogate these persons, who were responsible for checking transport and offloading of the illegal weapons at Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) jetty.
Earlier, accused Hafizur Rahman had made the confessional statement to Metropolitan Magistrate Md Osman Gani.
Responding to a time petition, a Chittagong court has already extended the time limit for investigation into the case up to May 13, said Investigation Officer (IO) Muniruzzaman Chowdhury, senior ASP of the CID, Chittagong zone.
The IO had made the time petition before expiry of the previous time limit--March 04.
Muniruzzaman said, in his confessional statement Hafiz quoted Ulfa leader (United Liberation Front of Assam) Paresh Barua as claiming to have permission and help from the CUFL, coast guard and the then chiefs of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and National Security Intelligence (NSI).
“We would be making appeal soon for allowing us to interrogate officials concerned of the organisations and agencies mentioned in the confessional statement," he said.
In reply to a question, the IO said, “The confessional statement (of Hafiz) did not specify any minister or government official."
Contacted, CID Chittagong zone Special Superintendent (SS) Mohammad Muslimuddin, said, “We would first interrogate officials of the organisations concerned, who are directly responsible for taking care of the matter.”
He said, “We visited Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited on the other bank of the Karnaphuli on Tuesday and came to know that the CUFL managing director enjoys the authority to permit use of the jetty by any vessel or vehicle.”
"So, the then CUFL managing director might be interrogated first. After that, we can say if those in the upper tier such as (the then) BCIC chairman, secretary or minister for industry had any involvement, or if they should be interrogated,” said Muslimuddin, who is entrusted with supervision and monitoring of investigation into the sensational case.
“We want to proceed step by step following appropriate procedure, and won't do anything in a haste that might hamper investigation and trial of the culprits," he said.
In this regard, he referred to submission of charge sheet twice, change of four previous IOs and further investigation and reinvestigation into the case over the last five years.
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