Joy gives deposition before court over ‘plot to kill him’

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, ICT affairs adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, narrated before a Dhaka court today how journalist Shafik Rehman and four others "plotted to kill him".

Details of the statements could not be known immediately as the journalists were not allowed in the courtroom.

Joy appeared before the court around 3:30pm, our court correspondent reports.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Asaduzzaman Nur recorded his statement for over 30 minutes.

Joy, in his deposition, sought exemplary punishment for the accused who had plotted to abduct and kill him, sources said quoting Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu.

After his statement, he left the courtroom around 4:00pm.

On August 3, 2015, the Detective Branch of police filed the case with Paltan Police Station in connection with the attempt to abduct and murder Joy.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Asaduzzaman Nur will record his statement at the courtroom.

The accused in case are Shafik Rehman; Mahmudur Rahman, acting editor of Bangla daily Amar Desh; Mohammad Ullah Mamun, vice-president of Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas); and his son Rizvi Ahmed Caesar; and Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, an expat businessman living in the United States.

All the five accused were shown fugitives by the court. Arrest warrants were earlier sent to their respective addresses.

Earlier, the same court recorded statements of nine prosecution witnesses, including the complainant of the case.

On February 22 of 2018, detectives pressed charges against Mahmudur Rahman, Shafik and three others for their alleged involvement in plotting to kidnap and kill Joy.

Due to security reasons, only four advocates, including Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu, were allowed to stay inside the courtroom during the trial proceeding today.