'DGFI role in Tajuddin escape'

Former DGFI officer Syed Monirul Islam has blamed the military intelligence outfit for facilitating the escape to Pakistan of Tajuddin, who stands accused of plotting the Aug 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally that nearly killed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a decade ago.

Tajuddin was accused of supplying the grenades used in the Aug 21, 2004 attack on the rally that left scores of Awami Leaguers dead, including Ivy Rahman, wife of late President Zillur Rahman.

Islam's testimony in the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 was recorded, after which Judge Shahed Nur Uddin fixed May 26-27 as the date for cross-questioning the former DGFI officer.

The court was adjourned thereafter.

Islam was the 84th witness deposing in the case.

He had joined the Counter-Terrorism Unit of the DGFI in 2006, two years after the Aug 21 grenade attack.

Islam told the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 that HUJI leader Abdul Hannan had pointed to Tajuddin as the supplier of the grenades used for the Aug 21 attack during interrogation in a TFI cell in 2005.

Tajuddin is the younger brother of Abdus Salam Pintu, a former deputy minister during the 2001-06 BNP-Jamaat coalition government.

He is being tried in absentia, as he is absconding. But Pintu is in jail for suspected involvement in the attack.

Islam said after Mufti Hannan's disclosures, Tajuddin had been brought to the DGFI headquarters in 2006.

He said that Tajuddin was interrogated in a DGFI' safe-house' by Brig. Gen Amin and Lt. Colonel Saiful Islam Joardar.

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"After the interrogation, Amin and Joardar discussed the situation over mobile phone. It then became clear that they had instructed to arrange for Maulana Tajuddin to go abroad," Islam said in his testimony.

He said that two days after the Amin-Joardar confabulations, Tajuddin was provided a fake passport made in the name of 'Badal'.

"Tajuddin was also provided a flight ticket to Karachi and a boarding pass by Joardar and Lt. Commander Mizan was given the responsibility to put Tajuddin on the flight."

Islam said that this whole operation of facilitating Tajuddin's escape was done under explicit instructions of those at the helm of the DGFI in those years.

Altogether 582 witnesses are testifying in the Aug 21 grenade attack case and 52, including BNP leader Tarique Rahman (son of party chairperson Khaleda Zia) and former junior Home minister Babar, stand accused of involvement and conspiracy.

Babar has been sentenced to death in the 2004 Chittagong arms cases.

Twenty five of those accused are in prison -- 19 are absconding.