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CHITTAGONG, Nov 15 (UNB): The Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Tuesday started recording the statements of witnesses to the sensational 10-truck arms smuggling case.
Among 104 witnesses, two- Golam Rasul, then havilder of Karnaphuli thana and Nurul Alam Sawdagar a shopkeeper of Karnaphuli Urea Fertilizer Ltd area-appeared before the court of AKM Anwar Hossain Tuesday.
The court declared Nurul Alam 'antagonist' as he said he knew nothing about the incident.
An arrest warrant was issued against Ahadur Rahman, the then OC of Karnaphuli thana, as he failed to appear before the court Tuesday despite directive of the court.
Three arrested accused, including main accused Hafizur Rahman, and 30 others, released on bail, were present at the court. Thirteen accused in the case are still absconding.
During previous hearing of the case, another arrest warrant was issued against another main accused, Yakub Ali, as he was absent at the court when charges were framed on October 24, 2005.
Ali, however, Tuesday submitted a medical certificate before the court saying he could not be present due to illness.
The court also granted him bail when he made the prayer.
As Hafizur Rahman was taken to the jail, he told journalists that he was not involved in the smuggling of the 10 truckloads of arms. "I know their (smugglers) names but can't disclose it for the sake of my safety."
Lawyers also submitted bail petitions for two other arrested accused in the case-Saleh Zohur and Monir Ahmed-but the court didn't gave any order in this regard.
Meanwhile, the court asked sergeants Helal and Alauddin to appear before the court on January 17, 2006 in another case filed for removing 10 arms from the 10 trucks.
Police and coastguards seized 10 truckloads of arms and ammunition from the Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Ltd (CUFL) jetty on April 1 in 2004, when they were being unloaded from a trawler.
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