100 MPs had charged Mushtaque with Aug 15 killings: PW-43

Some 100 MPs had refused to express their allegiance to President Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed when he called them to Bangabhaban two months after the gruesome killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports UNB.

"They also blasted Mushtaque and charged him and others with the August 15 killings," the then MP Prof Khorshed Alam, a prosecution witness in the Bangabandhu Murder Case, told the court when the trial proceedings resumed yesterday.

Prof Alam, the then president of Comilla district Awami League, made his deposition to the trial court as PW-43 when it was adjourned on November 25 before the winter vacation. He is also the current president of district AL.

During his cross-examination yesterday, Prof Alam, also a former district governor, said Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed called all the then parliamentarians at a meeting at the President House sometime in October, 1975.

"Some 100 MPs were present at the meeting ... before attending it, we had discussion among ourselves that we would ask Mushtaque as to how he became President and tell him that we don't accept you as the President," said the witness.

As Sirajul Haq MP and others in their deliberations echoed the consensus voice, the PW-43 said Mahbub Alam Chashi and Mushtaque government's minister Taheruddin Thakur tried to persuade the legislators to their side saying the time had changed.

"Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been killed. No gain will be achieved saying Mujib's name. It's better to support the Mushtaque government," Chashi and Thakur were quoted by Prof Khorshed Alam as saying.

The witness said the meeting was over after the speech of Sirajul Haq, who directly charged Mushtaque and his associates with the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib and others, and finally refused to recognise the 'killer' government.

Prof Khorshed Alam said the majors whose name he had mentioned in the deposition were present while they had the meeting with Mushtaque. "We, through their conversation, clearly realised that Mushtaque and his accomplices had killed Bangabandhu."He, however, said they could not inform the press about the protest made by the MPs. "I also could not file a case as the infamous Indemnity Act was imposed barring the trial of killers of Father of the Nation and others," the witness said.

"I informed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, but he laughed it away and ignored Khandaker Mushtaque," said the witness when he was asked if he had informed anyone that Mushtaque was used to criticise Bangabandhu and his policies.

As asked if he came to know that India, Pakistan and America were behind the killing, Prof Alam replied, "I don't know who were behind the curtain. But I knew that Pakistan hastily recognised the Mushtaque government as soon as it had assumed the power."

The witness was cross-examined by defence lawyers Khan Saifur Rahman and Gazi Zillur Rahman when the court of Dhaka District and Sessions Judge resumed in the chilly morning after more than a month's winter vacation.

Of the total 19 named in the case, the arrested accused were produced before the court. They were Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Farooq Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Sultan Shahriyar Rashid Khan, Lt Col (LPR) Muhiuddin, Hon Capt (retd) Abdul Wahab Joardar and former minister Taheruddin Thakur.

The judge, on request from the lawyers on both sides, decided to hold the trial proceedings three days a week during the holy month of Ramadan - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The court resumes at 9:30 am today.