A defence counsel yesterday told a sessions judge's court trying the BDR carnage case that an accused in the case assisted Maj Zayedi Ahsan Habib in escaping from Pilkhana headquarters after the mutiny broke out on February 25, 2009.
The defence counsel, Aminul Islam, said the then subedar major, Gufran Mallik, accused in the case, and his family gave a shirt, trousers and shoe to Zayedi to change his uniform and leave Pilkhana. Gufran's family members also assisted Major Zayedi Ahsan Habib who is a witness to the case to contact with his tense family members through cellphone. Zayedi talked to his family over Gufran's mobile to let them know of his whereabouts. In reply to a query, Chief Investigator of the case, Abdul Kahar Akhand, who had been cross-examined by defence counsels, said: "Yes. Maj Zayedi took shelter in Gufran's quarters, but he was kept confined." During the trial, Gufran told the same court that "Major Zayedi was given shelter in my bedroom." Dhaka Metropolitan Additional Sessions Judge Akhtaruzzaman at the temporary court set up at Bakshi Bazar in the capital recorded the cross-examination. Abdul Kahar, special police superintendent at the Criminal Investigation Department, had been cross-examined for 41 days. During cross-examination defence counsel Aminul asked Kahar whether he was aware that the major – after coming out of Pilkhana – told the media that Gufran and his family helped him escape. Kahar said "no" in reply. Aminul asked Kahar if the witness was aware about another BDR soldier Barun and a girl in the quarters. Kahar replied that he found Barun, but the whereabouts of girl could not be confirmed later. If Barun was made prosecution witness, questioned Aminul. Kahar said Barun was arrested, but charges were not pressed against him. As of the day, the defence counsels of 808 accused cross-examined the investigation officer. Seventy-four people, including 57 army officers, were killed during the BDR mutiny at Pilkhana on February 25-26, 2009. After the mutiny, the name of Bangladesh Rifles was changed to Border Guard Bangladesh.