Babar blames Khaleda, Tarique for his downfall

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“The all-powerful mother and son” are to be blamed for his present state and “inhuman life in prison”, claimed Lutfozzaman Babar, detained former state minister for home affairs, during CID interrogation on Monday.

Sidestepping his responsibility, Babar told the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) interrogators in a prison cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital that he had tried to do good things for the country, but he has become controversial due to the influence of former premier Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman.

Khaleda and Tarique are responsible for his inhuman life in prison, he also said.

“I made some wrong political decisions. If I get a chance in the future, I would disclose everything in an open meeting,” a source quoted Babar as telling the CID team.

Babar made the remarks spontaneously as the three-member CID team went to his BSMMU prison cell to interrogate him over Sabbir murder case, added the source.

At one point the former home ministry boss even addressed the CID investigators as “sir” and claimed innocence, said the source adding that Babar regretted his criticism by police officials despite his personal efforts to modernise the police force during his tenure.

Responding to queries over taking bribe in exchange for dropping Bashundhara Group chairman’s son Safiat Sobhan Sanbeer’s name from the Sabbir murder case, Babar said that the transaction was made as per the directive of Tarique Rahman, said the source.

Although the CID team did not ask him anything about the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004, Babar spontaneously told the interrogators that he did not concoct the Joj Mian story.

The Joj Mian story was cooked up on the instructions of former CID officials Ruhul Amin and Munshi Atiqur Rahman, the source quoted Babar as saying.

When the CID members told Babar that they were interrogating him for the Sabbir murder case, not the August 21 grenade attack case, Babar said that they should hear him out as the CID is also investigating the August 21 grenade attack case.

In an attempt to evade responsibility, Babar claimed that Harkatul Jihad Al Islami leader Mufti Abdul Hannan was arrested at his directive and he also ordered to arrest Moulana Tajuddin, but Tajuddin could not be arrested as his brother, former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu, sent him abroad.

Babar was arrested on May 28 last year and has already been sentenced to 17 years imprisonment in an arms case. He was admitted to the BSMMU on December 29 with various ailments including asthma.

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