A Dhaka court has ordered to start a trial against Harkatul Jihad (HuJi) leader Mufti Abdul Hannan and 12 others in a case filed under the Explosives Act over the CPB rally attack.
The Court of the Fourth Dhaka Metropolitan Special Judge Imrul Kayes indicted them on Thursday and set Oct 23 for witnesses’ deposition.
On Jan 20, 2001, a grenade attack on a CPB rally at Dhaka’s Paltan Maidan had killed four people on the spot, while another died in hospital.
Two cases were registered over the incident — one over the killings and another under the Explosives Act. On Aug 21 the court framed charges against 13 suspects in the murder case.
Two years after the attack, police’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) had submitted a final report on Dec 17, 2003 accusing none.
On Jan 27, 2005, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate asked the authorities to re-investigate the matter following a petition for fresh probe into the cases.
Investigating officer, CID inspector Mrinal Kanti Saha submitted the charge-sheet on Nov 27 last year, accusing the 13 of being involved.
On Thursday, the judge read out the charges against them in the presence of Hannan and five others.
They pleaded not guilty and prayed for justice.
Among the accused, Mufti Hannan, Mainuddin Sheikh, Arif Hasan Suman, Maulana Sabbir, Shawkat Osman and Mashiur Rahman are in jail.
Those absconding are Abdul Hai, Shafiqur Rahman, Nur Islam, Jahangir Alam, Mohibullah Muttakin, Anisul Islam Morsalin and Rafiqul Islam Miraj.
The Paltan bombing victims are Himanghshu Mandal, Abdul Majid, Abul Hashem, Mukhtar Hossain and Bipra Das.
Hannan is also accused in the Aug 21 grenade attack case and the Ramna Batamul attacks of 2004.
Source: Bd news24
