Jatiya Party chairman Hossain Muhammad Ershad on Wednesday appeared before a Dhaka court in a case filed in connection with the murder of Major General MA Monjoor in 1981.Ershad appeared at Dhaka’s first additional district and sessions judge’s court, adjacent to Dhaka Central Jail, when his lawyer claimed him not guilty in the case. His lawyer, Shaikh Sirajul Islam said that Ershad had no involvement with the murder. He appealed to the to acquit his client from the charge.
After the day’s hearing Judge Hosne Ara Akhter fixed Nov 24 to submit arguments on behalf of the prosecution.
Accused retired Major Kazi Emdadul Haque and retired Col Mostafa Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan were also present in the courtroom. The proceedings of the case have been stayed against other two accused retired Major General Abdul Latif and retired Lt Col Shamsur Rahman Shams by an order of the High Court.
Of the 49 witnesses, the court recorded the depositions 28 witnesses. On February 28, 1995, General Monjoor’s elder brother Barrister Abul Mansur Ahmed filed the sensational case with Panchlaish Police Station of Chittagong 14 years after the incident. The process of trial started the same year. Later, the case was transferred to a Dhaka court due to security reasons.
Monjoor was shot dead on June 1, 1981, at Chittagong Cantonment. – Court Correspondent
