Dawn
23rd February 1969
Agartala Conspiracy Case Withdrawn : Mujib and others released :
PEOPLE’S DEMND ACCEPTED
DACCA, FEB 22: THE AGARTALA CONSPIRACY CASE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AND ALL THE 34 ACCUSED INCLUDING SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN HAVE BEEN RELEASED.
THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE CASE CAME IN THE FORM OF REPEAL OF THE CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT (SPECIAL TRIBUNAL) ORDINANCE OF 1968 UNDER WHICH THE CASE WAS BEING TRIED.
The repeal of the Ordinance was announced here today by the Home Minister, Vice-Admiral A. R. Khan. The announcement said:
“Whereas the emergency has been lifted and the fundamental rights revived, to avoid any conflict with the fundamental rights, the Government has considered it expedient to repeal the Criminal Law Amendment (Special Tribunal) Ordinance No. 6 of 1968 under which the case State versus Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others is being tried. Accordingly Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others have been released”.
The release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other persons from the Dacca Cantonment where they were being held in military custody followed the repeal of the Ordinance.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the last man to come out of custody. After their release, he waited to see all the accused come out of custody, and then followed them.
Sheikh Mujib was quietly taken to his Dhanmandi residence at about 1 p.m. in a jeep by some military officers.
One of the accused, Sgt. Zahurul Huq, who was injured during an alleged attempt to escape from custody, later succumbed to injuries on the night of Feb 15.
The other person injured in the same firing, Ft.-Sgt. Fazlul Huq, is recovering in the Combined Military Hospital.
Besides Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the military personnel accused in the case, the civilian accused included three CSP officers.
The case was first brought to public notice on January 1,1968, with the issue of a Government Press Note on the arrests of some of the accused. The first arrests were made in early December, 1967, and most of the arrests were completed by the end of December. The last arrest was made in May, 1968. There were 35 accused in the case. Eleven other accused had turned approvers.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s involvement in the alleged conspiracy was announced by the Government on Jan 18. The Awami League leader was already in jail under DPR since May 9, 1966.
All the accused had pleaded not guilty with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman telling the court: “This is a conspiracy against me”.
The Ordinance creating the Special Tribunal for trying the case was promulgated on April 21, 1968. The Tribunal was headed by former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice S. A. Rahman. The two other members were Mr. Jutice M. R. Khan and Mr. Justice Maksumul Hakim of the East Pakistan High Court.
The withdrawal of the case was a pre-condition set by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for attending the proposed political talks in Rawalpindi.
The case was withdrawn in the wake of determined demands of the people of East Pakistan, supported by leaders of all Opposition parties during recent weeks, which witnessed outbursts of violence, and stormy demonstrations all over the Province. The violent demonstrations led to calling out of Army and imposition of curfew in different parts of the Province. The demand gained momentum following withdrawal of Emergency and the stalemate over the holding of the proposed Round Table Conference to which Sheikh’s presence was pressed for.
The death of one of the accused, Sgt. Zahurul Huq, further intensified the demand for the withdrawal of the case and the release of all case and the release of all the accused.
The much-awaited release of Sheikh Mujib and withdrawal of the case took place after the air dash to Dacca of Defence Minister A. R. Khan and Central Information Minister Khwaja Shahabuddin. -APP.
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