DHAKA: A Dhaka court Thursday directed the authorities concerned to investigate into further the killing of General Manzur even though the trial is now at the final stage for pronouncing verdict.   

Judge Khandaker Hasan M Firoz of Dhaka Additional Sessions Judge Court-1 passed the order.

The court also directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit the probe report within April 22.  

State prosecutor Asaduzzaman Khan Rochi submitted the petition during the closing arguments earlier in the morning.

On February 10, the Dhaka Additional District and Session Judge Court fixed February 27 to hear the fresh argument in the case of General Manzur murder case.

On January 22, the court fixed February 10 for pronouncing the judgment of the case after concluding the arguments.

As the judge of the court has been changed, traditionally in such cases sets a date for further hearing and then fixes another date for delivery of verdict.  
Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad, special envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the prime accused of the case.

He along with Kazi Emdadul Haque, Lt Col (retd) Mostafa Kamaluddin Bhuiyan were present during the re-fixation of the judgments date

In the case, the judges were changed at least 23 times since the trial began in August 1995.

Major General Muhammad Abul Manzur, the then general officer commanding of the 24th infantry division, was shot dead in Chittagong on June 1, 1981, two days after the assassination of the then president Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981 at Chittagong Circuit House.

Fourteen years after the murder of Gen Manzur, his brother Barrister Abul Mansur Ahmed filed a case with Chittagong’s Panchlaish Police Station on Feb 28, 1995 accusing five individuals including Ershad, who ran the country for nine years from 1982.

The then assistant superintendent of police Abdul Kahar Akand pressed charges against the accused.

Later, the case was transferred to the Dhaka court due to security reasons.

BDST: 1917 HRS, FEB 27, 2014