2004 Weapon Haul: 2 Ex-Ministers, 9 Others Accused

[SpArK]

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2004 Weapon Haul: 2 Ex-Ministers, 9 Others Accused

Two former ministers were among 11 new suspects accused by Bangladeshi police in a supplementary chargesheet filed today in the country's biggest ever arms haul case of 2004 when 10-truck loads of weapons destined for ULFA hideouts in India were seized.

"We have submitted the supplementary chargesheet today (before a court in southeastern port city of Chittagong) following our extended investigation into the case," an official of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police told PTI.

Former state minister for home Lutfuzzaman Babar and ex-industries minister Matiur Rahman Nizami of the past BNP-led government and ex-chiefs of the two intelligence agencies and United Liberation Front of Assom (ULFA) chief Paresh Barua, were among the 11 accused in the chargesheet.

The supplementary chargesheet came on an earlier court order for an extended investigation into the 2004 arms haul when a consignment of 10-truck loads of weapons believed to be destined to northeastern India's ULFA hideouts, were seized in Chittagong.

Officials familiar with the investigation said their probe found Chinese firm NORINCO to have produced the weapons but they could not identify the ship that carried the illegal consignment to Bangladeshi territory.

The extended investigation was carried out under a court order after a Chittagong court judge declined to accept the original investigation report when the case was first brought for trial on February 12, 2008, because of ambiguity.

The court subsequently had to extend its deadline 17 times as the CID repeatedly sought more time for submitting the supplementary chargesheet in their probe which according to them unfolded "revealing facts" behind the haul.

The eight other suspects included retired brigadier general Abdur Rahim, former chief of National Security Intelligence (NSI), and ex-major general Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), along with Barua, Babar and Nizami, who is the chief of BNP's ally Jamaat-e-Islami.

The consignment was seized in April 2004 despite suspected efforts of certain "influential quarters" for its safe passage to ULFA hideouts through Chittagong. The case was shelved for years after the apparently "accidental" seizure.

The seized weapons, including over 27,000 grenades, 150 rocket launchers, over 11 lakh ammunitions and 1,100 sub machine guns, were unloaded at a government jetty belonging to state-owned Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Company Ltd (CUFL) to be reloaded in trucks destined for northeastern frontiers.

The subsequent military-backed interim government in 2008 ordered a re-investigation amid allegations that there was a deliberate attempt on the part of the then administration under the BNP-led government to suppress facts.

The reinvestigation led to arrest of several high-profile intelligence officials including former NSI and DGFI chiefs and questioning of a number of senior officers including the then home secretary Omar Faruque.

The investigators also found that the weapons were manufactured at China's Norinco, known outside China for its high-tech defense products, some of which are adaptations of Soviet equipment.


Officials earlier said ULFA leader Barua oversaw the abortive smuggling process in connivance with the influential people in Bangladesh.
FILED ON: JUN 26, 2011

news.outlookindia.com | 2004 Weapon Haul: 2 Ex-Ministers, 9 Others Accused

[Md Akmal]

@ God bless this present AL govt. AL itself does not know what she is trying to find it out. Each and every country has its own secrecy. Now, if the govt himself disclose its her/own secrecy than who is going to blame. It is something like digging its own grave !!!!

@ The famous 10 trucks arms smuggling was basically brought by the ULFA and some of the then govt elements oversaw it. Once an insurgency is going on in our neighbouring country so it is natural the immediate neighbouring country will most of the time will help them either directly or indirectly. Let's take the example of insurgency in Chittagong Hill Tract. It started back in 1974 and continued till 1997 once the peace accord was signed by the Govt of Bangladesh and the Shanti Bahini. Now, who were behind it ??? It was ofcourse India. They not only shelter them but also armed them, financed them, trained them and finally guided them. Now, will the govt of India will catch hold all those RAW officers , other intelligence officers and those elements who were directly involved with the Shanti Bahini ? There is no credit to trail all the members of intelligence organisation and the political leaders who were involved on it. All these things AL is doing only to please India. I feel ashamed in which country we are living. Is our country is going to be an Indian State or it has already became ??????

@ Why General Razzaqul Hyder or other officer to be blamed for this arms smuggling ?

[Md Akmal]

@ Investigators have pressed charges against 11 more persons including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami and nine others for their alleged link with the sensational 10-truck arms smuggling in Chittagong. The arms were transported from China for Ulfa, Moniruzzaman Chowdhury, senior assistant superintendent of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the investigation officer of the cases, told reporters Sunday afternoon after submitting two supplementary charge sheets.


@ Earlier in 2004, the investigators submitted charge sheets against 45 in a case filed for smuggling the firearms and 43 in the other case filed under explosives act. Four people, who were accused in both the charge sheets, meanwhile, died. On Sunday, the CID submitted separate supplementary charge sheets before the Chief Metropolitan Court in Chittagong in the afternoon. In a primary memorandum of evidence of the cases submitted to Public Prosecutor (PP) Kamal Uddin Ahmed on June 3, the CID mentioned the names of the 11 new accused.


@ Apart from Babar and Nizami, other new accused include India's Ulfa (United Liberation Front of Asom) leader Paresh Barua, former director general (DG) of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim, the then director of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Maj Gen (retd) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury, Former NSI director Wing Commander (retd) Shahab Uddin, former deputy director of NSI Maj (retd) Liakat Hossain, former NSI field officer Akbar Hossain Khan, former additional secretary of industries ministry Nurul Amin, former managing director (MD) of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) Mohsin Talukder and former CUFL general manager (admin) Enamul Hoque are the other charge-sheeted accused. Of the accused, Ulfa leader Paresh Barua and additional secretary of industries ministry Nurul Amin are absconding, said investigators. The CID officials said names of the 11 accused were added to the 41 others whose names came in the two previous charge sheets. On April 2, 2004, police seized 10 trucks of weapons and ammunition from the CUFL jetty in Chittagong in the biggest ever arms haul of the country.


@ Two cases -- one under arms act and one for smuggling of arms -- were filed the next day with Karnaphuli Police Station against 43 people in connection with the smuggling. Names of two accused were later dropped from the charge sheet as they died. CID started investigating the cases after the first IO of the cases Ahadur Rahman, also the then officer-in-charge of Karnaphuli Police Station, was dropped within less than a month for his controversial investigation. Kabir Uddin Ahmed, Chittagong zone ASP of CID, was then appointed the next IO who submitted his report on June 11, 2004. ASP Nawshad Ali was later appointed as the third IO and he submitted a supplementary charge sheet on August 28 of the same year. On February 12, 2008, during the tenure of the last caretaker government, the court of Metropolitan Session Judge ANM Bashirullan ordered further investigation in the cases following an appeal by the then PP Ahsanul Haque Hena.


@ The court in its order directed to investigate seven specific points in the further investigation. ASP of CID Ismail Hossain carried the further investigation as the fourth IO of the cases but he failed to submit his probe report even after six time extensions. On January 18, 2009 a Chittagong court ordered to replace Ismail Hossain following an appeal by the state lawyer and ASP Moniruzzaman was appointed as the fifth IO. It was alleged that the previous investigations were not done seriously and the charge sheets were prepared poorly without accusing the masterminds.

[monitor]

What the current govt is doing is just blind attack on political oposition without thinkng about the consequence . if our primer intelligence agency had help the ulfa there were no personal interest it was national interest to teach our big neighbor tht if they help our insurgence we can or will start helping the insurgence in their country too . moreover we get ourself liberated from the tyranny of Pakistani rule when this people of asam had help us, now when they are fighting for the same cause it is moral duty to help them

[jha]

Once an insurgency is going on in our neighbouring country so it is natural the immediate neighbouring country will most of the time will help them

hmmm.....interesting line of thought..

[jha]

moreover we get ourself liberated from the tyranny of Pakistani rule when this people of asam had help us

hahahahahaha....

[Galaxy]

What the current govt is doing is just blind attack on political oposition without thinkng about the consequence . if our primer intelligence agency had help the ulfa there were no personal interest it was national interest to teach our big neighbor tht if they help our insurgence we can or will start helping the insurgence in their country too . moreover we get ourself liberated from the tyranny of Pakistani rule when this people of asam had help us, now when they are fighting for the same cause it is moral duty to help them

ULFA chapter closed now after decade old tussle turned with peace talk. Next topic Please.

[monitor]

ULFA chapter closed now after decade old tussle turned with peace talk. Next topic Please.

We are talking about 2004 not current situation .

[Md Akmal]

hahahahahaha....

@ Why are you laughing ???

@ If we can break the Seven Sisters of North and North-Eastern India there lies our security and overall development of our economy.

@ There lies our "Sonar Bangla" !!!!!!!

@ One day I can forsee it will be separated from the clutches of India and become independant. Hope so it breaks "Kudbakhud".

@ Had it our country been part of Pakistan, it would had been succeeded by this time.

@ I remember in those days a complete "Mizo Brigade" was trained by the Pakistan Army. And there was a permanant Mizo Taining Camp some where at Banderban(Chittagong Hill Tract). There was another camp at Modhupur in between Mymensingh and Tangail. Even during our Liberation War the whole Mizo Govt with their army along with Brigadier Lal Denga was stationed at Rangamati. Infact it was this Mizo Brigade along with 1 x Pakistani Commando Battalion and elements of para-military forces of Raja Tridem Rai who controlled the whole Chittagong Hill Tract. But it was not known to any one of Bangldesh. Once after the surrender of 16 Dcember 1971, the people of Bangladesh were rejoicing, Indian Kilo Force Commanded by Brigradier Uban secretly moved towards Chittagong Hill Tract and annihilated them. Some of the Razakars along with the followers of Raja Tridem Rai flade to Burma and started movement for "Muslim Bangla". The fighting continued in 1973/74. They even established a radio statation.

@ Once the Indian Army went back to India some military advicers remained in Bangladesh. Actually how many advicers and military force remained in Bangladesh specially in Chittagong Hill Tract no body knows it but it was sure that one or two helicopter remained at Chittagong Hill Tract. Out of this one helicopter was crushed on the night of 15 August 1975 near Comilla the day Sk Mujib was killed. The burned bodies were brought to Dhaka CMH and silentlty send to India.

@ It created a lot of hue and cry in Bangladesh among the military and civil administration about this crushing of Indian helicopter. Some says it was stationed at Chittagong to over see the operation of counter insurgency in Chittagong Hill Tracts mainly to help the Bangladeshi Armed Forces. Once Sk Mujib was killed the helicopter hurriedly tried to escape to India but shot by the military personals at Comilla Cantt. Some said once it was going back to India it hitted with one bird and then crushed. Some said it was coming to Dhaka in order to rescue Sk Mujib. And now it reveals that 3 x helicopters along with three Indian Generals came to Bangladesh in order to pick up Sk Mujibur Rahman and straightway take him to Delhi for the annexation of Bangldesh with India and make the Vice-President of India. But once it enters in Bangladesh it was shot down and all killed ???????

[monitor]

@ md.akmal
i read it too but except the destruction of helicopter according to asma rahman/some one in the hierarchy of Al once told that three army general had came to Bangladesh with one thousand flage of india to take sk mujub to india and put him as the life term vice president of India and chief minister of bangladesh after annexation it with India .

[jha]

Why are you laughing ???

At the stupidity of his post..

If we can break the Seven Sisters of North and North-Eastern India there lies our security and overall development of our economy.

Thats a big IF... And keep wishing that..
Our Armed forces are not there for show... We can repeat '71 again...And this time our task will be much easier...

One day I can forsee it will be separated from the clutches of India and become independant. Hope so it breaks "Kudbakhud".

I am sure , You have been foreseeing this for last 40 years... Keep foreseeing this for next 40 more years ( provided if you live ) and we will be 3rd biggest economy ...

[jha]

And now it reveals that 3 x helicopters along with three Indian Generals came to Bangladesh in order to pick up Sk Mujibur Rahman to Delhi for the annexation of Bangldesh with India. But once it enters in Bangladesh it was shot down and all killed ???????

You and your conspiracy theories...No one has ever wanted to annex Bangladesh...

[jha]

BTW have any of you heard that before this election BNP leaders had secretly conveyed the message to India that they will act as pro-india if we helped them during elections.. Now go figure..

[monitor]

you can hear but i didn't . infact BNP may convey that if Indian agent in Bangladesh keep quiet and not make any vandalismin the election day they will try to be more friendly to india . now happy ?

[jha]

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you can hear but i didn't . infact BNP may convey that if Indian agent in Bangladesh keep quiet and not make any vandalismin the election day they will try to be more friendly to india . now happy ?

That means , you really dont know anything about the backroom drama...This did happen ..Now give it a try and you will finally see the real face of internal politics of your revered BNP..