This Article is From Apr 02, 2009

Jamaat leader quizzed over BDR mutiny

Dhaka: A senior leader of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami was questioned by sleuths on Monday in connection with last month's bloody mutiny at the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters, the first politician to be quizzed in the case.

"Jamaat joint secretary general Abdur Razzak was questioned for nearly three hours as he came to our office after we summoned him," an official of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) told PTI without elaborating.

Officials said Razzak was the first politician who was questioned by CID, which was charged with carrying out the probe into the February 25-26 carnage that claimed the lives of 75 people, including 58 army officers serving in the paramilitary border force on deputation.

The Jamaat leader appeared before chief investigating officer Abdul Kahhar Akand a day after obtaining anticipatory bail from High Court after receiving the CID summon.

The High Court granted Razzak the bail till April 5 and asked the government not to "arrest or harass" him in connection with the BDR rebellion during the period.

"They quizzed me about my activities on February 25," Razzak told newspersons while emerging from the CID office.

Earlier, the government had indicated that the role of militant Islamist organisations in the BDR mutiny could not be ruled out. It said that investigators were closely looking at the possible role of extremist outfits.
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