Fresh probe into Manzur murder ordered

Court Correspondent :Dhaka’s First Additional District and Sessions’ Judge’s Court on Thursday directed the prosecution to submit a probe report within April 22 after a fresh inquiry in to the sensational Manzoor murder case.In the morning, the Public Prosecutor of the case, Asaduzzaman Khan Rochi appealed to the court for re-inquiry into the case as the earlier inquiry was not a proper one. Many more people could not give witness. Through proper investigation, the actual fact of the case could be revealed and more people could come to the court as witnesses, he added.Judge Khandaker Hasan Mahmud Firoz accepted the prayer and passed the order in the afternoon. The same court on February 10 postponed the verdict in Manzoor murder case and fixed February 27 for further argument.On January 22, after completion of deposition of witnesses and submission of arguments, the former judge of the court Hosne Ara Akhter set February 10 to deliver the verdict. But it could not be given as she was transferred. The trial of the case began in 1999 when the Awami League government was in power. The main accused in the case, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad MP, now on bail, went to the court on February 4.Besides, other accused Major (retd) Kazi Emdadul Haque and Lt Col (retd) Mostafa Kamaluddin Bhuiyan were present in the courtroom on Thursday.According to the case statement, Major General Abul Manzoor, Bir Uttam, was killed in the Chittagong Cantonment on June 1, 1981, a day after President General Ziaur Rahman was assassinated at the local Circuit House in an abortive coup. Manzoor was arrested by police following murder of Zia.Manzoor’s brother Barrister Abul Mansur Ahmed lodged the case with Panchlaish Police Station in Chittagong on February 28, 1995, 14 years after the incident. Later, the case was transferred to Dhaka from Chittagong for quick disposal.According to the case details, Major General Manzoor was brought from police custody to Chittagong Cantonment by Major Kazi Emdadul Haque, where he was shot and killed on June 1, 1981. Manzoor was blamed for Zia’s assassination in Chittagong. Former Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdul Kahar Akand submitted the charge sheet of the case against the accused.But it needed another 14 years to reach a point of verdict due to the changes in government and request for time by the prosecution.The main accused Ershad, in his defence, told the court, the then government had announced on television and radio a bounty of Tk 500,000 for the capture of Major General Manzoor, dead or alive. He said he had nothing to do with his death.He added “Angry men were tying to snatch away Manzoor when he was brought to Chittagong Cantonment. The scuffle led security guards to open fire.””Abul Manzoor was shot and injured at one point and he died while he was being taken to the hospital.” The then Secretary for Home Mahbubuzzaman testified before the Investigation Officer (IO). He said Manzoor was handed over to the army on the order of the then President Abdus Sattar.On October 2 in 2012, Ershad submitted a written statement to the special court in his defence. Major Emdad also submitted the court a written statement after the case was lodged.A total of 28 people, including the IO of the case Abdul Kahar and the Army’s Chief of Staff Abu Saleh Muhammaad Nasim in 1981, testified.