CHITTAGONG: Former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Farrukh Ahmed Chowdhury Sunday completed his cross-examination before a Chittagong court in the sensational 10- truck arms haul case.
Another prosecution witness Sergeant Helal Uddin also gave his deposition before the court in connection with the arms smuggling incident.
The proceedings resumed at the court of Chittagong Metropolitan Session Judge and the judge of Special Tribunal-1 SM Mujibur Rahman. The cross examination will resume in the same court Monday.
Former State Minister for Home Luftozzaman Babar’s lawyer Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar quizzed Forrukh Ahmed Chowdhury.
The court, however, adjourned the proceedings till Monday.
Another prosecution witness Sergeant Alauddin will also give his deposition before the court Monday.
Among the accused, Nizami, Lutfozzaman Babar, two former DGs of the National Security Intelligence (NSI)—Major-Gen (retd) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury and Brig-Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim--former director wing commander Shahabuddin, deputy director Major (retd) Liakat Hossain, field officer Akbar Hossain Khan, former managing director of CUFL Mohsin Talukder and general manager AKM Enamul Haque and Hafizur Rahman and Trawler owner Din Mohammad were produced in the court.
Besides, two of the accused--former secretary of Industries Ministry Nurul Amin and United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) leader Poresh Barua--are on the run.
Earlier, former industries secretary Dr Shoeb Ahmed and former CMP deputy commissioner (port) Abdullah Hel Baki were given their dispositions in the case.
On June 26 in 2011, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) authorities submitted a supplementary charge-sheet on the cases against 11 persons.
On November 15 in 2011, charges were framed against the accused in the cases.
The second-phase hearing was held on January 25 while the first-phase held on November 29 of the last year.
Way back on April 1, 2004, police seized 10 truckloads of heavy arms and ammunition during unloading at the jetty of state-run fertilizer factory named Chittagong Fertilizer Limited (CUFL).
Two cases -- one for smuggling in weapons and the other under the arms act – were filed on April 2, the day after the biggest arms haul in the country’s history.
On June 11, 2004, a charge-sheet had been submitted to the court accusing 45 in the first case while 44 in the second.
Later on February 12, 2008, Chittagong Sessions Judge Court gave a directive for further investigation into the cases following a petition by the then Public Prosecutor, Ahsanul Haque Hena.
After conducting investigations for three and a half years, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 26 submitted a supplementary charge-sheet in the twin cases on the 10-truck arms haul.
With submission of the supplementary charge sheets, the number of total accused stood at 52 in the case filed for smuggling the firearms and 50 in the other case filed under the arms act.
BDST: 2020 HRS, JUL 29, 2012
Edited by: M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor
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