Two ex-NSI chiefs nabbed for links to Ctg arms haul

They’re to be produced in Ctg court today
Former Directors General (DGs) of National Security Intelligence (NSI) Major General (Retd) Rezzaqul Haider and Brigadier General (Retd) Abdur Rahim were arrested in the capital early yesterday for their suspected links to the 10 truckloads of arms haul in Chittagong in 2004.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the two former NSI DGs, according to highly placed Home Ministry officials. They were picked up from their residences in Dhaka.
During a primary interrogation by CID, the two denied their involvement in the Chittagong arms haul.
The arrests followed a 16-page confessional statement made by former NSI director Sahab Uddin and the arrested NSI Field Officer Akbar Hossain Khan which mentioned a number of high officials of NSI and the then administration as well as some foreigners in the sensational Chittagong arms haul case.
Inspector General of Police Noor Mohammad confirmed the arrests of the former DGs.
The two arrested former NSI DGs are expected to be produced before court in Chittagong today (Sunday). The CID will appeal for their 5-day remand, it was learnt.
They were brought to the port city at about 10pm last night and kept at a secret place in the city.
Abdur Rahim was DG of NSI, while Rezzaqul Haider was director of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) during the arms haul in Chittagong in 2004, according to sources. Rezzaqul Haider later served as DG of the NSI. later.
Earlier, a Chittagong court on Friday sent to jail Shahab Uddin after recording his confessional statement. The former NSI director was produced before court for recording his confessional statement after a six-day remand ended Thursday.
Shahab Uddin had been placed on remand for three days on May 4 as well. He was arrested from a house on Green Road in the capital on May 3.
His arrest was made after arrested Akbar Hossain Khan in a confessional statement on May 2 evening mentioned that Sahab Uddin had links to the arms haul.
Police seized ten truckloads of arms and ammunition at the secured jetty of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd on the midnight of Apr 1, 2004.
Our Staff Correspondent from Chittagong adds: Former NSI director ex-Wing Commander Sahab Uddin made a confessional statement under Section 164 in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Hannan on Friday evening. The magistrate recorded a 16-page confessional statement in which Sahab Uddin admitted that he had carried out the directives of the then Prime Minister’s office. He also disclosed the names of the then NSI chief Major General (Retd) Rezzaqul Haider and Brigadier General (Retd) Abdur Rahim.
With the confessional statement of Sahab Uddin, the CID auhtorities took all measures to arrest the two former NSI chiefs.
After failing to bring out any information, the CID men decided to send former NSI director Sahab Uddin to the Task force Interrogation (TFI) Cell. They appealed for his remand for the second time. The court granted 6 days’ remand for the second time on May 7.
It may be mentioned that Brigadier General (Retd) Abdur Rahim, then a retired officer, was appointed to the top NSI job by the BNP-led coalition government. Major General (Retd) Rezzaqul Haider succeeded him later and was removed immediately after the army-backed caretaker government slapped emergency on Jan 11, 2007.

Courtesy of The Independent