The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former BNP Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu, who was granted a three-day police remand by a Dhaka Court yesterday, has made startling disclosure to interrogators about the involvement of former State Minister of Home Lutfozzaman Babar and "Hawa Bhaban" in the August 21 (2004) grenade attacks on Awami League rally in the capital.

The grisly attack left 23 people, including senior Awami League (AL) leader Ivy Rahman, killed and 200 others, including party Chief Sheikh Hasina and some senior leaders, injured. The attack was carried out when Sheikh Hasina was making her concluding speech at the rally in front of the Bangabandhu Avenue AL headquarters. At least 18 persons, mostly AL activists, died on the spot.

Abdus Salam Pintu was arrested on Thursday night for his involvement in the grenade attack on the basis of confessional statement made earlier by detained Muftee Hannan, who is the Chief of banned militant outfit Harkatul Jihad that carried out the cowardly assault.

Muftee Hannan claimed that the attack on the AL rally was planned at the official residence of the former Deputy Minister, who, he said, was present at the meeting and later supplied the grenades.

The former Deputy Minister, who was elected to the last Parliament from Tangail-2 (Gopalpur), was arrested by intelligence officer earlier on December 31 and conditionally released on January 3.

"The grenade attack had been carried out with the consent of former State Minister of Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and the Hawa Bhaban," Abdus Salam Pintu was quoted by a CID officer as saying during the interrogation, BDNews24.Com reported yesterday.

'Hawa Bhaban', the office of the BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, was run by her eldest son Tarique Rahman when she was the Prime Minister, was allegedly known as the 'alternative center of power' during the immediate-past BNP-led four-party alliance Government.

The officer of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), who was talking to journalists on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to brief the media, said Pintu had made the disclosure during interrogation.

The CID officer said they were certain after the arrest of Muftee Hannan and Pintu that the attack on the AL rally had been aided and abetted by Lutfozzaman Babar and the Hawa Bhaban.

"To hide the truth, former investigation officer Ruhul Amin, a CID officer, had gone to Pintu's house several times," he said, and added, "former State Minister of Home Babar was involved in the entire process and Pintu would regularly enquire with him about the progress."

Meanwhile, Investigation Officer (IO) of the case ASP Fazlul Kabir, who yesterday sought a 10-day remand to Judge Abdullah-Al Mamun of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court, Dhaka, told journalists that they have enough evidence that proves Pintu's involvement in the grenade attack.

The Court granted 3-day police remand.

Fazlul Kabir (an ASP of CID) referred to the confessional statement made by Muftee Hannan that Pintu masterminded the attack.

Pintu's counsel Advocate Sanaullah Mia, however, told journalists that there was no specific charge against the former Deputy Minister.

"He was implicated only because his cousin Maulana Tajul Islam, a militant leader and an accused in the grenade attack case, had visited his house when Pintu was a Minister," he claimed.

Advocate Sanaullah Mia pleaded to the Court for Pintu's bail but the Judge rejected it.

"Pintu pleaded not guilty of the charges," Sanaullah Mia said, quoting the former Deputy Minister as telling the Court, "I worked as a lawyer for 37 years. I am not involved with any subversive or militant activities. I had no link with August 21 incident."

"I was interrogated in this connection on January 3 and released. I could have fled if I was guilty," Pintu added.

He appealed to the Court for medical treatment since he was sick.

Fazlul Kabir, also senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said on Thursday night that a CID team arrested him from near Motijheel Police Station about 11.30pm.

Court sources said there were allegations that Maulana Tajul supplied the grenades for the attack on the ALrally on August 21, 2004, with the help of Pintu.

Harkatul Jihad leader Muftee Hannan in a confessional statement recently named Pintu as the mastermind of the attack.

Hannan said the attack was planned at Pintu's official residence in Dhanmondi two days before the incident.

Security officials carried out several operations in Tangail, Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur in Dhaka to arrest Tajul.

Maulana Tajul Islam is presumed to be hiding somewhere in Pakistan or South Africa. Bangladesh police has sought help from the International police organisation-the Interpol for his arrest.

In the meantime, IGP Noor Mohammad told journalists yesterday that they were trying bring back two fugitives now staying in India, who were involved in launching grenade attack on the August 21 AL rally.