A Dhaka court on Wednesday set November 24 for hearing the argument of the prosecution in the Manzoor murder case in which former military ruler HM Ershad is an accused.
Ershad was present in the court as Dhaka First Additional District and Sessions’ Judge Hosne Ara Akter recorded the argument of the defence side.
The main accused in the case are HM Ershad, retired Major Emdadul Islam and retired Lieutenant Colonel Mostafa Kamal Uddin Bhuyain.
Ershad’s counsel Sheikh Sirajul Islam placed his argument before the court. He said as the prosecution could not produce any evidence against Ershad the court should acquit Ershad unconditionally.
The counsel of Ershad said: "Ershad was included in the charge-sheet out of political vengeance".
On October 2 last year, Ershad defended himself in the court pleading not guilty.
Earlier, Ershad claimed that a news report published in the daily Azadi on June 4, 1981 headlined “Enraged armed people shoot Abul Manzoor dead and two cohorts during mutiny” was true.
Ershad told the judge that police handed Manzoor over to the army on the order of then acting president Abdus Sattar. Then home secretary Mahbubuzzaman told the investigation officer of the case in his statement.
Ershad submitted his statement to the special court in writing earlier.
General Manzoor was killed in 1981 after the assassination of former army chief and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman; the murder case was filed in 1995; subsequently, the charge-sheet was submitted to the court the same year.
In his defence Ershad told the court that he stepped down from power on December 6, 1990 in agreement with the “so-called” framework outlined by the then opposition.
“Regrettably I was implicated in false cases one after another in violation of the pre-election agreements due to vendettas,” the former dictator said.
“The goal was to harm my dignity. It was intended to humiliate me socially and politically. This case is nothing but a sequel to that design.”
The trial related to the Major General Abul Manzoor murder case filed 17 years ago is being delayed as the prosecution has delayed in presenting its arguments.
Lt Col Mostafa Kamal in this arguments said: ‘‘Some enraged people tried to snatch Manzoor on the way that triggered shooting between them and the guards. At one stage Manzoor was hit by bullets and died on his way to hospital.”
The case is being held in a special court at Nazimuddin Road adjacent to Dhaka Central Jail. During the period of argument the accused were present before the court.
According to the trial documents, 28 out of 49 witnesses, including investigation officer Abdul Kahar Akand, testified before the court.
The other charge-sheeted accused in the case were Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Shams and Major General (retd) Adbul Latif.
The court had previously granted bail to all of the accused.
On February 28, 1995, barrister Abul Monsoor Ahmed, brother of slain Abul Manzoor, lodged a case with Panchlaish Police Station in Chittagong accusing Major Emdadul of killing Manzoor.
On July 15, then assistant police super Abdul Kahar Akand submitted the charge-sheet to the court.
Then army chief Abu Saleh Md Nasim and metropolitan judge Abul Hashem gave testimony before the court on October 28, 2010.
