Rahim brought to Dhaka for further quizzing at TFI

Law enforcement agencies yesterday brought former National Security Intelligence (NSI) director general Brig Gen (retd) Abdur Rahim to Dhaka for quizzing him at the taskforce interrogation (TFI) cell in connection with the sensational Chittagong arms haul case.Rahim was brought out of Chittagong jail around 10:00am and sent to Dhaka directly by road under police escort, said sources in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is investigating the case.Maj Gen (retd) Rezzaqul Haider, the other detained ex-NSI chief accused in the case, will be taken to TFI cell in Dhaka later, said CID Chittagong divisional Special Superintendent of Police Mohammad Muslim.Both the former NSI bosses were placed on a 6-day fresh remand each on Wednesday.Sources said during the interrogation at TFI cell the investigators would focus on extracting information regarding the origin, destination, buyers and financers of the 10 truckloads of arms and ammunition hauled at the jetty of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Company Ltd (CUFL) in the early hours of April 02, 2004.They said after the latest arrest of four NSI men including the two former chiefs and CUFL managing director and general manager (admin) the number of accused in the case rose to 51, including one deceased. Investigators have so far interrogated 43 of them.Apart from the two ex-NSI chiefs and one former director, others are accused of helping transportation of the illegal consignment. So, they did not have any knowledge about the suppliers and buyers of the arms and ammunition.But, being the then NSI chief, Rahim would surely be able to give details on everything and identify everyone involved in the smuggling, sources said.Rahim and Rezzaqul were arrested on May 16 at their residences in Dhaka following the confessional statement of former NSI director (security) Wing Commander (retd) Sahab Uddin made before a Chittagong court on May 15.In his statement, Sahab implicated the former NSI chiefs.The two were produced before a Chittagong court and taken on a three-day remand each on May 17.During interrogation on remand, they gave important information regarding the smuggling. Especially Rahim admitted to holding a meeting with officials of a foreign agency and ARY, a Dubai-based business group allegedly financing insurgent and terrorist groups.But, they tactfully avoided information about their involvement in the incident.