Mufti Hannan’s confession about the August 21st plan

Mufti Hannan’s commentary

I had previously given a voluntary confessional statement in this case. At that time, I could not say everything. When I voluntarily submitted an application to the Honorable Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court and said that I had something more to say and write, he approved my application. Today, the prison authorities have sent me to you to record my statement on that matter through you. I am presenting today’s statement along with the previous confessional statement given under the pressure of conscience.

Sheikh Hasina’s public rally was attacked that day with 15 grenades taken from the house of Abdus Salam Pintu, the deputy education minister of the coalition government. To implement the plan for the attack, the coalition government representative and Tarique Rahman were introduced to the militant leaders through BNP MP Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, and a meeting was held at Hawa Bhaban to implement the plan.

When the Awami League was defeated in the October 2001 elections, the BNP formed a government in alliance with the Jamaat. At that time, in order to further strengthen the relationship between our organization and the BNP, the Ameer of the Huji contacted Maulana Abdus Salam, Sheikh Farid, Maulana Yahia, Abu Bakkar, Jahangir Badar (Jandal), MP from Chittagong Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and MP from Muradnagar in Comilla, Kaikobad. Our Ameer Abdus Salam met them. They arranged for bail from the High Court for 41 people arrested in Dhankhali in 1996. In this way, our contact with them continued and they also continued to help.

At the end of 2003, State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar contacted our Amir Abdus Salam, Sheikh Farid, and Maulana Tajuddin. They went to Babar’s official residence on Bailey Road. GK Ghaus, Commissioner Arif (Sylhet), Maulana Yahya, Abu Bakkar alias Abdul Karim were present there. I was also present. After discussing with Amir Sahib there, State Minister for Home Affairs Babar asked GK Ghaus and Arif to work in Sylhet. After that, local BNP and Harkat members exploded grenades in various places in Sylhet.

In early 2004, a meeting of the HuJI was held; in which Amir Abdus Salam, Maulana Sheikh Farid and Jandal were present. The meeting was held at the HuJI office Darul Arkan Madrasa in the Mohammadpur bus stand area. Abu Bakkar, Maulana Yahia were also present at the meeting. In the meeting, how to talk to Tarique Rahman and Babar was discussed. Later, in the Mohammadpur Satmasjid, Maulana Abdus Salam, Maulana Abdur Rauf, Maulana Tajuddin, Kashmiri citizen Abdul Mached Bhat and others consulted together and planned to kill Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League leaders.

Maulana Tajuddin took the responsibility of supplying grenades. Taj Bhai said that Deputy Minister Abdus Salam Pintu and State Minister Lutfuzzaman Babar had said that they would help us. We decided to contact Tarique Rahman. Then one day (I don’t remember the date and time) Muradnagar MP Kaikobad Sahib took us to Hawa Bhaban and introduced us to Tarique Rahman and Haris Chowdhury Sahib. When we asked for their help and cooperation for our work, Tarique Rahman assured us of all kinds of cooperation. Then we held secret meetings in Mohammadpur and several other places to kill Sheikh Hasina and Awami League leaders.

In August 2004 (date not remembered), I came to know about the Awami League protest meeting at Muktangan in Dhaka to protest against the grenade attack in Sylhet. There, it was decided to attack Sheikh Hasina and Awami League leaders. It was decided to meet Tarique Rahman again to implement the plan.

I went to Hawa Bhaban in Al Markazul’s car along with Maulana Abu Taher, Sheikh Farid, Maulana Tajuddin, Maulana Rashid. I found Haris Chowdhury, Lutfuzzaman Babar, Ali Ahsan Mujahid of Jamaat-e-Islam, Brigadier Rezzakul Haider, Brigadier Abdur Rahim also present there. After a while, Tarique Rahman came. We informed them about the plan to attack Sheikh Hasina and other Awami League leaders and asked for their help. Then they assured us of all kinds of administrative support.

Tariq Sahib said that you don’t need to come here anymore. You will work in coordination with Babar Sahib and Abdus Salam Pintu. They will provide you with all kinds of assistance.

On August 18, I went to Abdus Salam Pintu’s official residence in Dhanmondi with Ahsan Ullah Kajal and Maulana Abu Taher. Abdus Salam Pintu, Babar, Maulana Tajuddin, Commissioner Arif and Hanif of Hanif Paribahan were present there. Pintu and Babar said that Commissioner Arif and Hanif Sahib will provide you with all kinds of help and cooperation and we will have all kinds of security arrangements. Accordingly, on August 20, Jandal and Kajal took 15 grenades from Abdus Salam Pintu’s residence for 20 thousand taka and brought them to Badda’s residence.

The next day, August 21st, we carried out a grenade attack in front of the Awami League office as planned.