Trial proceedings in the case relating to the murder of Jalal Ahmed, an informant of the Detective Branch (DB) of police, are yet to be completed, despite the fact that over 21 years have elapsed since the murder.
The case has been pending with the Dhaka Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court due to the non-appearance of witnesses and negligence of officials concerned.
A total of 17 judges who have dealt with the case have been changed during the trial proceedings.
The recording of witness testimonies in the case began on March 12, 2001. Altogether 25 out of 58 prosecution witnesses have testified before the court in the case.
On May 25, 2015, investigation officer (IO) of the case and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Special Superintendent Munshi Atiquer Rahman, who is now in jail for negligence in the probe over the August 21 grenade attack case, gave a partial deposition as the 25th witness in the Jalal Ahmed murder case.
Since then, the prosecution has failed to produce any witnesses before the court despite five years having elapsed.
Court sources said the court is now waiting to record the unfinished testimonies of two important prosecution witnesses--- IO Munshi Atiquer Rahman and the 20th witness, rickshaw-puller Iman Ali, who stayed away from appearing in court after his partial testimony on February 4, 2003.
Talking to the correspondent, Public Prosecutor Saiful Islam Helal said: “It is true that the case is a much-talked about one and has been pending for a long time, but we are trying our level best to complete it.
“The trial in the case will be completed soon after we can record the unfinished testimonies of IO Munshi Atiquer Rahman and rickshaw puller Iman Ali,” he said
The state lawyer also said: “IO Munshi Atiq is now in jail while Iman Ali is not appearing before the court despite the issuing of a non-bailable arrest warrant against him.”
DB informant Jalal Ahmed was killed over 21 years ago. Jalal Ahmed’s half decomposed body was recovered from the overhead water tank of DB’s Minto Road headquarters on March 25, 1999.
Following an investigation, the CID submitted a charge sheet against DB Inspector Mohammad Ziaul Ahsan, Havilder Mohammad Billal, Constable Mohammad Abdur Rauf, Abdul Malek and and Anwar Hossain in the case.
Of the accused, Ziaul Ahsan, Billal and Rauf are out on bail, Anwar Hossain died on November 24, 2007 and Malek has been on the run since the filing of the case.
According to the charge sheet, DB inspector Ziaul Ahsan used Jalal as a source to collect information about illegal gold and drug smuggling from different areas of Dhaka.
After being tipped off by Jalal, the accused detained the smugglers and seized illegal goods. As Jalal was “deprived of his share,” he changed his position and started providing information to other DB members.
DB official Ziaul became angry with Jalal on March 13, 1999, as he had provided information on a ring of gold smugglers to another DB team.
On March 19 the same year, Ziaul reportedly killed Jalal on the rooftop of the DB office after calling him out from his home. The police official then concealed the body in the overhead water tank of the DB with the help of other accused.
Two cases were filed over the murder. Initially, police filed an unnatural death (UD) case with Ramna police station.
On March 31, 1999, Jalal’s family members identified his body at Birdem Hospital. Subsequently, his son Abbas Uddin filed the second case on April 4 the same year.
When contacted, Sheikh Baharul Islam, one of the defence lawyers, said: “The case is now pending as the prosecution cannot produce two important witnesses ---20th witness rickshaw puller Iman Ali and IO Munshi Atiqur Rahman—before the court for deposition.”
