PW identifies evidences

Shamsul Haq, who was the first investigation officer (IO) of the Shazneen murder case, gave his deposition before the Second Special Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression, Dhaka. The tribunal is hearing the Shazneen rape case.

The witness was cross-examined for about two hours by the lawyer of principal accused Shahidul Islam alias Shahid.

Judge Kazi Rahamat Ullah then adjourned the hearing till today.

In his deposition, Haq said in the early hours of April 24, 1998 he took over charge of investigation into the Shazneen murder case.

"After a while, I visited the place of occurrence (victim's residence) and sketched a map of it. Then I seized some evidences from the bedroom of victim Shazneen and made a seizure list," the witness said.

He continued, "At about 1:15pm on April 25, 1998 I went to the spot again and recovered a blood-stained knife from the western side of the house. It was recovered in presence of domestic help Moslem Howlader and cook Abdul Mannan (both prosecution witnesses)."

Replying to a question, the witness said he had tried to arrest accused Shahid from the house but he had fled earlier.

He had also interrogated two housemaids -- Minu and Parvin (both accused)-- and some invitees to a party at the house, he added.

All the six accused --Shahid Hasan, Badal, Shaniram, Minu and Parvin-- now in jail custody, were produced before the court yesterday.

Special public prosecutors (PPs) ABM Sharfuddin Khan Mukul and Arfan Uddin Khan appeared for the state. Advocates M A Kamrul Hasan Khan Aslam and Mizanur Rahman defended the accused.

Shazneen Tasnim Rahman, 15, the youngest daughter of Latifur Rahman, Chairman of Transcom, was raped and murdered at their Gulshan residence on April 23, 1998.