Col Farooq had hinted about contact with Indian army
Col Farooq, after the assassination of country's independence leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had hinted at the senior officers about their contact with Eastern Command Headquarters of the Indian army, reports UNB.
"Don't worry, Sir. We have round the clock communication with the Fort William," Farooq assured Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf when the senior army officer expressed his apprehension about Indian intervention following the killing of Bangabandhu.
This was revealed during cross examination yesterday by Col (retd) Shafaat Jamil, the 44th prosecution witness in the Bangabandhu Murder Case, describing apprehension of the then CGS of Bangladesh Army and the assurance given by the principal accused.
"You formed an illegal government through killings. What will be the fate of the country if the Indian army intervenes in Bangladesh incidents as there is a 25-year friendship treaty," Khaled Mosharraf was quoted by the witness as saying to Farooq.
The reported talks between late Brig Khaled Mosharraf and Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Farooq Rahman took place in the office room of the then 46 Brigade Commander Shafaat Jamil in the afternoon of August 15, 1975.
"The then Awami League government had signed the friendship treaty with India . . . but the present government did not renew it," said PW-44 when cross examined by advocate Khan Saifur Rahman, the defence lawyer for Farooq.
Col Jamil came up with the elaborate description of Farooq's assurance when he was asked by the defence lawyer if after the August 15 bloody incidents they had thought of seeking cooperation from the Indian army against the changeover.
"We neither thought about any help from Indian troops, nor ever tried for it," he said explaining the pressure of Indian helicopter in Bangladesh territory that crashed in Noakhali a day before the assassination of country's founding President.
"It should be clear that no Indian troops were in Bangladesh. But at that time an Indian helicopter with their own crews was engaged in assisting our army in counter-insurgency operation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts," the witness said.
Regarding the post-August 15 governments, Col Jamil, who was a key leader of the coup against Khandaker Mushtaque and arrested army chief Zia on November 3, 1975, said: He (Zia) was not legal when he took over from Sayem. Ziaur Rahman was legalised later through elections.
"All officers, except those involved in the killing of Bangabandhu and staying at Bangabhaban, were united against the activities of Army Chief Ziaur Rahman. They supported my initiative and took part," the former 46 Brigade Commander said about the abortive coup.
Asked as to why they went on operation to topple the Mushtaque government, Col Jamil replied that he (Mushtaque) was an illegal President. "We went on operation to oust him on November 3 as we could not go for action in previous 81 days."Replying to a question, he said the martial law was neither withdrawn nor enforced after Sayem took over. A status quo was maintained until November 7.
He also termed ''totally illegal" the martial law, officially proclaimed five days after the killing of Bangabandhu, under the leadership of Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed, a minister of Sheikh Mujib's cabinet.
"A martial law is legal when it is proclaimed under the chief of staff and followed through the chain of command. But a martial law enforced through killing and coup by retired officers and civilians is not legal,' said the ex-army officer.
The then brigade commander said he or any other military officer was not confined after the August 15 bloody incidents. "But mentally, all were confined as the killers made them hostages by tanks and artillery guns.""In fact, the armed forces were loyal to the government in power before the August 15 incidents . . . After the assassination of Bangabandhu, all had to accept the situation to avert bloodshed and civil war."Regarding the November 7, 'Sepoy Revolution', a sequel to November 3 attempt to bring back the chain of command in army, he said as far as he knew 13 officers, including a female, were killed by the 'disgruntled' soldiers.
Some valiant freedom fighters, including Brig Khaled Mosharraf, were killed during the revolution mainly organised by Gano Bahini of Col Taher that freed General Zia from house arrest. Jamil was injured.
The cross examination of the PW-44, Col Jamil, began at the court of Dhaka District and Sessions Judge Kazi Golam Rasul when it resumed at its special ejlash at Nazimuddin Road yesterday morning after a five-day recess.
Advocate Khan Saifur Rahman will also examine the witness when the court resumes this morning.
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