Former DGFI director general Major Gen (retd) Sadik Hasan Rumi yesterday restated that he met the then prime minister Khaleda Zia a day after the August 21 grenade blasts at an Awami League rally in 2004.
He also maintained that he had sought the then prime minister's permission to probe the deadly blasts but to no avail.
Rumi was being cross-examined by the defence in two cases filed in connection with the August 21 grenade attacks that killed 24 AL leaders and workers and maimed around 300 others on the capital's Bangabandhu Avenue. Sheikh Hasina, the then opposition leader, narrowly escaped death but suffered ear injuries.
Replying to a query, Rumi said he had no documents to prove that he had sought Khaleda's permission to investigate the attack.
Earlier on November 5, he testified as the 65th prosecution witness at the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1.
Fakhrul Islam, counsel for Mufti Abdul Hannan, the detained leader of the militant group Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) and prime accused in the blasts cases, cross-examined the former DGFI chief yesterday.
Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the tribunal set November 18 and 19 for further cross-examination.
Meanwhile, Fakhrul Islam has filed a petition seeking action against Rumi for “giving false and fabricated statements”. In the petition, he said Rumi had no jurisdiction to go to the then prime minister to request permission for probe.
Twenty-six of the accused including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed, now behind bars, were produced before the court yesterday.
Seven others including Ariful Islam Arif, a former DCC ward councillor, now on bail, were also present.
Tarique Rahman, senior vice-chairman of BNP, and 18 others have been shown absconding.