Cop testifies in Aug 21 attack case

One more prosecution witness yesterday testified before a Dhaka court that Huji leader Moulana Tajuddin used to visit the residence of his brother Abdus Salam Pintu, former deputy minister of the immediate past BNP government.
Earlier, on Sunday, another prosecution witness gave an identical statement before the same court.
Both Pintu and Tajuddin are accused in the August 21 grenade attack cases.
Pintu was arrested earlier and he is now in jail custody, while Tajuddin is a fugitive accused in the cases.
In his deposition before the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 yesterday, Constable Al Mamun said he was deployed at Pintu's Dhanmondi government residence as a security guard form July 23, 2002 to July 6, 2004.
Tajuddin used to visit Pintu's residence with some of his accomplices, Mamun said.
“We did not obstruct him (Tajuddin) from visiting the residence as Pintu did not give any direction to us in this regard,” Mamun added.
The witness further said from newspapers, television and people he later came to know that Tajuddin along with Harkatul Jihad al Islami leader chief Mufti Abdul Mannan were involved in militant activities.
Mamun was later cross-examined by the lawyers of 28 accused. Cross-examination of the witness will be continued till August 18.
A grenade attack was carried out on August 21, 2004 when the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina, now prime minister, was addressing a party rally at the Bangabandhu Avenue.
Hasina narrowly escaped death ending up with an ear injury. But 24 leaders and activists of her party were killed, including late President Zillur Rahman's wife Ivy Rahman, and 300 others injured.