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TFI awe-struck
[Bangla Daily Star] Investigators could not glean any new information from former NSI chief Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim about the smuggling of 10 trucks of arms during his remand at taskforce for interrogation (TFI) cell in Dhaka.TFI officials were rather busy making Rahim's stay at the cell comfortable, arranging television, refrigerator and air cooler for him, sources said. Assistant Superintendent of Police of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Maniruzzaman, who is investigating the arms haul case, told The Daily Star that they were taking the former National Security Intelligence (NSI) boss to Chittagong yesterday at the end of the six-day interrogation period. Rahim might be produced before the Chittagong court with a prayer for taking him for further interrogation in connection with the haul of 10 truckloads of arms and ammunition at the jetty of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Company Ltd in the early hours of April 02, 2004. Sources close to the TFI cell informed that junior officials were assigned the interrogation job and they could not get any significant information from Rahim. "It seems that officials assigned to quiz such a former senior officer were too preoccupied with addressing him 'sir'," said a source wishing anonymity. Rahim was arrested on May 16 after former NSI director Wing Commander (retd) Sahab Uddin named him in his statement. The source said during the interrogation at TFI Rahim denied his link with the smuggling, and rather pinned the blame on Sahab and field officer Akbar. "Protesting his innocence, Rahim said he came to know about the arms haul after former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar phoned him and wanted to know if he had any knowledge about the incident," the official said. Rahim also said he had formed an enquiry committee led by Brig Enam after the incident and reported to the home ministry that Sahab was a corrupt official and was involved in arms dealing while Akbar was involved in various crimes in Chittagong, the source said. Rahim also claimed to have transferred Akbar to Noakhali for his involvement with criminal activities. Sources said Rahim willingly gave a two-page statement in which he mentioned his "heroic" deeds while in service. He said he played a pivotal role in foiling the forward march of a brigade from Bogra during the coup attempt by former army chief General Nasim in 1996. Besides saving himself, Rahim is also trying to shield the then ministers, state ministers and other high profile political leaders, the sources added. They said since CID interrogators could not make any headway in the investigation quizzing Rahim, the police are likely to pray to the court to take Rahim on further remand. Sahab Uddin in his confessions to the TFI said that Rahim and another former NSI top boss Maj Gen (Retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, two officials of a high commission of a neighbouring country and the managing director of the Aga Rahman Yousuf (ARY) Group held several meetings at home and abroad in connection with the arms dealing. Sahab said the ARY Group gave Rahim £40,000 as bribe at the NSI DG's Gulshan Safe House in November 2003. Sahab also mentioned that "as far as his knowledge goes", BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman attended a meeting in Dubai in 2003 and another at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka in February 2004 with officials of the ARY Group and the high commission. The meetings held in Dhaka were also attended by Paresh Barua alias Amir Bhai, he said. Posted by: Fred 2009-05-27 |
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