Court Correspondent :
Joj Mia, who was allegedly implicated in the Aug 21 grenade attack cases during the previous BNP-led government, testified at the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka on Tuesday.
Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the court started recording his deposition at his makeshift court in front of Dhaka Central Jail at12.10 noon.
Earlier on the day, the defence lawyers cross-examined Joj Mia’s sister Khorsheda Khatun and mother Jobeda.
While giving testimony, Joj Mia told the court that Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had
arrested him from his village home on June 9, 2005. Later he was kept on remand from June 10 to 25 in the August 21 grenade attack cases. He was compelled to make confession admitting his involvement in the incident of the case. He was also threatened of firing squad if he did not testify following the instruction of the prosecution.
Former CID officials Ruhul Amin and Abdur Rashid were the investigators of the case during the former BNP-led government. Both of them are now accused in the cases.
Twenty four people, including Awami League women front’s president Ivy Rahman, were killed and over a hundred, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the then leader of the opposition were injured in the grenade attack was carried on August 21, 2004 on a rally of the Awami League held in the Bangabandhu Avenue of the capital.
Motijheel police filed the two cases–one in connection with murder and the other for the use of explosive substances–against 52 people, including BNP’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tareque Rahman and former State Minister for Home Lufozzaman Babar. Five hundred and eighty two people were made witnesses in the cases.
