Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed has termed the killing of retired Major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan the worst incident and said the Bangladesh Army wants exemplary justice in the case.
He talked to reporters after the regimental colour distribution ceremony of six units of the 24 Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army at Bhatiari, Chattogram on Wednesday.
“Everyone knows this is a horrible incident, and warrants vicious punishment. The government has taken action,” he said.
The Army chief said that immediately after the incident, the government formed a joint investigation team comprising representatives from the Army and police.
“We’ll all support the recommendations of the committee to the government. There is no need to say anything separately.”
While speaking at the regimental colour distribution ceremony as the chief guest, General Aziz Ahmed remembered Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his valiant role in the Liberation War in 1971.
“Every member of the Army joined the Liberation War at the call of Bangabandhu to fight for independence from Pakistan,” he said.
The Army chief praised the sacrifice freedom fighters made to free Bangladesh.
He said there is a plan to make Bangladesh Army stronger and more modern.
General Aziz Ahmed asked all the members of Bangladesh Army to serve the nation with utmost dedication.
He expressed his satisfaction with the work of the army personnel as they have been working to serve the people amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken several initiatives to combat coronavirus. Bangladesh Army is involved in implementation of the initiatives,” he said.
High-profile army officers along with other members of the force were present at the programme.
Regimental colours are given to the units for special contribution to the country and its people, and for upholding glorious heritage of the Army.
In the Sinha murder case, a Cox’s Bazar court on Wednesday sent three witnesses in the case to jail following their statements in connection with the murder.
The three witnesses are Nurul Amin, Nizam Uddin and Md Ayas of Marishbunia area of Teknaf.
They were sent to jail from Cox's Bazar Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court at around 3pm on Wednesday. From 10:30 am to 3:00 pm, the three witnesses testified in the private room of Judge Tamanna Farah.
On the night of July 31, on his way back from Marishbunia in Teknaf, Major Rashed Mohammad Sinha was shot dead at a police check post in Shamlapur.
On August 5, Sinha’s sister sued seven policemen including dismissed Office- In-charge of Teknaf Police Pradip Kumar Das andLiakot In-Charge of BaharChara police investigation center of Teknaf.
But in addition to the seven, RAB arrested six more, including three members of the Armed Police Battalion and three villagers.
Meanwhile, the government probe committee into Sinha's murder has questioned Pradip Kumar Das, the officer-in-charge of Teknaf police station at the time of the incident.He was dismissed after the incident.
At 10:45 am Wednesday, members of the probe committee headed by Chattogram Additional Divisional Commissioner Mizanur Rahman entered Cox's Bazar jail. After questioning Pradip, the committee members came out of the jail in the afternoon.