Morning News
23rd February 1969
Mujib & 33 others released: Case withdrawn
(By our staff Reporter)
The Awami League chief Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 33 others were released yesterday following withdrawal of the case “State vs. Sk Mujibur Rahman and others” by the Government.
The Central Home Minister Vice-Admiral A. F. Khan issued a Press release yesterday noon which said: “Whereas the emergency has been lifted and fundamental rights revived, to avoid any conflicts the Government has considered it expedient to repeal the Criminal Law Amendment “Special Tribunal Ordinance No. VI of 1968 under which the case State vs. Sk. Mujibur Rahman and Others is being tried. Accordingly Sk. Mujibur Rahman and others have been released”.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with 34 others including the CSP officers had been charged with conspiracy to separate East Pakistan, from the Centre with the assistance of Indian arms and money.
A three-member Tribunal headed Mr. Justice S. A. Rehman, a former Chief Justice of Pakistan was set up to hear the case. The hearing started in mid-June last year.
The withdrawal of the case came in the wake of a countrywide agitation by the students, political leaders workers, peasants and
common man.
Sk. Mujib was arrested on May 9, 1966 under Defence of Pakistan Rules, Subsequently he was released from DPR detention and taken into military custody in January 1968.
All the accused in the case “State vs. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and others” returned home except for two. Sgt. Zahurul Huq died on February 15 at the Combined Military Hospital after he had received injuries due to firing by the guards. The other person injured in the same incident Flt. Sgt. Fazlul Huq, although released, is still in the Combined Military Hospital receiving treatment.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯