A Chittagong court on Tuesday recorded partial deposition of prosecution witness SM Sabbir Ali, former commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, in two cases related to recovery of 10-truck arms and ammunition.
Sabbir in his deposition said he had communicated with the then state minister for home Lutfuzzaman Babar on receiving the message about the off loading of arms and ammunition after being failed to reach the inspector general and the additional inspector general of police.
‘The state minister directed me not to arrest the deputy director of National Security Intelligence Major Liakat Hossain and four others found engaged in supervising the off loading activities,’ the former CMP commissioner added.
He also said he directed Abdullah Hel Baki, the then deputy commissioner (port) of CMP, to rush to the spot along with force on receiving the message about off loading of arms and ammunition.
‘Baki informed me from the spot that Major Liakat asked him to cooperate in off loading the consignment instead of seizing, as the higher authorities were aware of it,’ he said, adding that he had informed the state minister about Liakat’s role.
The metropolitan sessions’ judge SM Majibur Rahman, also judge of the special tribunal-1, recorded deposition of the former commissioner of CMP and fixed today (Wednesday) for recording incomplete deposition of Sabbir and rest of the prosecution witnesses.
Earlier, the court completed cross examination of Baki, which started on Monday. Baki gave his deposition before the court on May 8.
Ten accused in the case, including former industries minister Matiur Rahman Nizami and former state minister for home Lutfuzzaman Babar who were implicated in the supplementary charge sheets of the cases, were produced during recording of deposition.
Another arrested in the case Enamul Hoque, former general manager of CUFL, could not be produced due to his illness while military chief of ULFA Poresh Barua and former acting secretary of the industries ministry Nurul Amin remained absconding.
On April 2, 2004, the police seized a huge cache of sophisticated firearms when those were being loaded on to 10 trucks from two engine-boats at the jetty of the CUFL.
Ahadur Rahman, the then Karnaphuli police officer-in-charge, filed the two cases on April 3, 2004 in connection with the incident, which were later transferred to the criminal investigation department of police.
The CID on June 26, 2011 submitted supplementary charge sheets following further investigation into the cases.