CHITTAGONG: The important high ranking officials of DGFI and NSI convicted in ten truck arms haul case used to keep ‘cordial’ relations with Pakistan and US embassies.

They had also friendly relations with Pakistan intelligence agency ISI officials, owner of Pakistani QTV owner group ARY (Aga Rahman Yusuf) and Asam province separatist leader Paresh Barua.

The convicted accused Shahabuddin had close contact with Hawa Bhavan.

The judge of the tribunal in his full verdict has mentioned that it was clear to the court in the statements of two convicted accused. From the observation of the full verdict copy that reached banglanews these information were gathered.

The special tribunal judge of Chittagong SM Mujibur Rahman used the references of the confessional statements of Wing Commander (retd) Shahabuddin, former director of NSI (security) who was awarded death sentence. The tribunal Judge referred his confessional statement he gave to the Metropolitan judge on May 15 of 2009 and on June 13 and 14 of the same year.

In the observation of the verdict, the tribunal also mentioned a statement of Brigadier General (retd) Abdur Rahim given by him under Criminal Procedure Code (Cr PC) under 164.

In a portion of the full verdict referring the statement of convicted NSI field officer Akbar Hossain it was mentioned that he had close links with Hawa Bhavan.

In the observation the judge in the full verdict mentioned that Abdur Rahim’s statement also revealed that regarding the transfer of Shahabuddin two representatives of US embassy strongly recommended.

In the full verdict it has been mentioned that in his confessional statement Abdur Rahim told that after the arms haul I personally had gone to Prime Minister’s office and informed the State

Minister of Home that Shahabuddin is involved with arms smuggling and he be withdrawn from my organization and send him back to Air Force and measures to be taken after an enquiry.

During the transfer process two officers of US embassy strongly recommended not to transfer him. But I did not agree.

In another part of the full verdict it has been mentioned as Abdur Rahim in his statement told that in March, 2004 Shahabuddin came to his office and tried to say something about Anup Chetia.

As Shahab observed that I had no interest then he had said that we should help the Ulfa. At that moment I got furious and asked him should we give away Bangladesh to the Ulfa. He left my office remorsefully.

In confessional statement Abdur Rahim further mentioned that during his posting as Deputy

Director of NSI and also as the PS of DG he cleverly influenced all around by his power of position. He also frequently used to mix with the intelligence officers of the foreign embassies and exchanged information. He set up close relations with ISI officer Brig. Mogijuddin and Col.

Shahed Mahmud of Pakistan embassy and held meetings with them frequently. I used to view the QTV of ARY mostly. Then Shahab gave me the proposal of becoming the local agent of ARY.

Then he prepared an outline of cooperation between Bangladesh’s NSI and Pakistan’s ISI.

In the observation of the verdict it has been said Shahabuddin’s confessional statement contained some sensational information about accused Liaqut Hossain, Abdur Rahim and Rezzaqul Haider.


In the confessional statement Shahabuddin told that in March of 2004, DG Abdur Rahim called me and told we need some dependable persons as our some machinery will come. After few days he informed me that some machinery will arrive and I will send Akbar to Chittagong. Handling these matters I fell tired and sick and finally got admitted in the C.M.H for checking my cardiac problem.

Shahabuddin told that in the evening at 7 o.clock of March 30 one Amir had gone to see him at the CMH. Still then he did not know that Amir was Paresh Barua. When went to the door to see off Amir he found Rezzaqul Haider standing. Amir told that he came with Rezzaqul Haider.

Regarding Abdur Rahim, Shahab said that his behavior appeared that as if I was an Indian spy.

His observation was that after getting admitted in the C.M.H, I had helped to capture the arms.

Regarding Liaqut in another part of his statement Shahabuddin informed that during clean heart operation in the months of October-November of 2002, many terrorists including some Ulfa leaders and Indian separatists were captured by the army. On behalf of NSI Liaqut was given the charge of interrogating the Ulfa leaders and the separatists. Later on, I came to know that the Ulfas and the Indian separatists were set free.

In the full verdict mentioning all these points the tribunal made the observations that though accused Abdur Rahim and Shahabuddin had given their statements accusing each other but there statements corroborates about their involvement in the incident.

Shahabuddin stated that DG Abdur Rahim with the help of Pakistan High Commission went to Dubai for pleasure trip along with Amir alias Paresh Barua in the same flight. DG Abdur Rahim in his own confession stated that he went to Dubai along with his wife at the invitation of ARY group.

There is no logical ground to disbelieve the almost same corroborating confessional statements of the two, observed the tribunal.

On last January 30 the Judge gave the verdict of the two separate cases of ten truck arms smuggling and arms control law.

In the smuggling case the tribunal handed down death sentence to 14 accused including former Industry minister and Amir of Jamaat Islami Mowlana Matiur Rahman Nizami and former state minister of Home Lutfuzzaman Babor. The tribunal also imposed on each a fine of Taka 5 lakh.

In the same incident the case filed under arms control law of 1878 section 19(A) the same convicted persons were handed town life term imprisonment. They were also awarded seven years imprisonment under sections 19(C) and 19(F). It was ordered that both the punishment will run simultaneously. Besides, their under- trial imprisonment time will be deducted from their total imprisonment period, it was mentioned in the verdict.

The convicts are former Industry minister Matiur Rahman Nizami, former state minister of Home Lutfuzzaman Babor, the military commander of Ulfa Paresh Barua, former secretary in-charge of Industry ministry Nurul Amin, the then DG of NSI Brigadier (retd) Abdur Rahim, the then director of DGFI Major General (retd) Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, former director of NSI (security) Wing Commander(retd) Shahabuddin, Deputy Director Major (retd) Liaqut Hossain, Field officer Akbar Hossain Khan, former MD of state owned CUFL MohsinTalukdar, smuggler Hafijur Rahman, labor supplier Deen Mohammad and trawler owner Haji Abdus Sobhan.

The ten truck arms were hauled at the state owned CUFL jetty of Anowara, Chittagong on last April 1 of 2004.

BDST: 2154 HRS, FEB 11, 2014