DACCA: The Agartala Conspiracy Case has been withdrawn and all the 34 accused including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been released. The withdrawal of the case came in the form of repeal of the Criminal Law Amendment (Special Tribunal) Ordinance of 1968 under which the case was being tried. The repeal of the Ordinance was announced here today [Feb 22] by the Home Minister, Vice-Admiral A.R. Khan. ...

The case was first brought to the public notice on January 1, 1968, with the issue of a Government Press Note on the arrests of some of the accused. The first arrests were made in early December, 1967, and most of the arrests were completed by the end of December. The last arrest was made in May 1968. There were 35 accused in the case. Eleven other accused had turned approvers.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s involvement in the alleged conspiracy was announced by the Government on Jan 18. The Awami League leader was already in jail under DPR since May 9, 1966. All the accused had pleaded not guilty, with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman telling the court: “This is a conspiracy against me.” ... The withdrawal of the case was a pre-condition set by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for attending the proposed political talks in Rawalpindi.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2019