'Past regime protected 2004 attackers who targeted Sheikh Hasina'

"I challenge you... I have not come here to testify due to any fright or allurement... I am a (1971) freedom fighter and in my whole life I have not earned anything by dishonest means, discharged my duties with utmost honesty," Rumi said.

Replying a question Rumi said being the DGFI chief he could talk to the prime minister anytime on the basis of "talking points" and he eventually informed the then premier about the attack in writing.

In his last week's testimony, Rumi had insisted Zia barred him from investigating into the attack while the ex-premier appeared annoyed and virtually rebuked him as he wanted to talk to her on the attack issue and subsequent investigations.

"From where you gathered the ridiculous information... what is your headache if Tajuddin (a key attack plotter) goes to Pakistan or anywhere else?" Rumi recalled Zia as telling him as he tried to confirm a report that she herself ordered his safe passage abroad.

The trial of the grisly attack is underway with the court indicting a number of high-profile suspects while the prosecution accused Tarique Rahman and Babar as masterminds of the attack plot. Hasina was visibly the prime target of the assassination plot.

Babar and another junior minister, Abdus Salam Pintu, former minister in the same government and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed were the political figures alongside Tarique Rahman who are being tried.

Three former police chiefs, several former military officials who were posted in DGFI

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