Pakistan Observer
21st May 1967
Mujib appeals against conviction
(By Our Court Correspendent)
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the East Pakistan Awami League Chief on Saturday appealed on the Sessions Judge, Dacca against the order of his convention by Magistrate Mr. Afser-ud-din Ahmad for alleged Prejudical speech at Paltan Maidan on March 20, 1966.
Admitting the appeal. The Sessions judge Mr. M. H. Rahman CSP set the case to June 19 for hearing. A petition was also moved for ball in this case, for the accused who has been detained under DPR for over one year. The petition comes up for heaving on May 29.
Holding his court inside Dacca Central Jail the trying Magistrate pronounced his judgment there on April 27 and awarded the accused 15 months’ jail term.
Prosecuted under rule 41 of the DPR, the allegations against the Sheikh were that his speech was likely to bring the Government of Pakistan established by law into haired and contempt and to excite disaffection towards it.
Further the speech was likely to promote feelings of enmity and hatred between the people of the two wings of Pakistan and to cause fear and alarm to the public.
Sheikh Mujib pleaded not guilty and submitted that his speech was a criticism of the measures and policies of the Government in an objective manner. He said in it he suggested remedial measures to the problems of the country so that lasting feelings of brotherliness might grow up among people of the two wings.
He also contended Inter alia that the Government reporters noted down his speech not in full and that in many places they noted it incorrectly.
Praying for quashing the Magistrate order the appellant submitted that the magistrate in convicting Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had erred both in law and facts. The accused said evidence in the case did not substantiate the allegations against him.
The appellant submitted that he was prosecuted by the D.C. Ramna Thana who neither heard the speech, nor read its transcriptions by Government reporters. The O.C. Filed the case not on his own motion but at the behest of another his superior of the City Special Branch, it was added.
Sheikh Mujib submitted that the alleged transcription of his speech produced before the court was a carbon copy and that the prosecution had failed to satisfy as to why the original copy was not produced.
It was further added that the alleged transcription was done in three pieces by three separate reporters but they did not … the signatures of the respective reporters.
The appellant said the evidence of the Magistrate who had attested the transcription should not be relied upon, for he has been prosecute in a creminal case.
সূত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু তৃতীয় খণ্ড: ষাটের দশক॥ দ্বিতীয় পর্ব