A Dhaka court on Wednesday deferred the next date of the case filed in connection with the celebrations Bangla New Year on April 1, 2001, when a blast killed 10 people and inured 50 others to April 10.
Earlier, on March 23, Judge Ruhul Amin of the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court of Dhaka fixed April 2 for appearance of the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case following an appeal of the prosecution. The defence vehemently opposed that decision of the court.Meanwhile, on behalf of defence the court was informed on Wednesday that they will challenge the decision of the court that decided to summon the IO to the court once again.
On February 6, the prosecution completed the arguments in case and sought death penalty for all 14 accused, including Mufti Abdul Hannan, chief of banned militant outfit Huji and alleged mastermind of the heinous attack.
On September 23 last year, of the 84 witnesses of the case, the court corded the depositions of 61 including IO and CID Inspector Abu Hena Md Yusuf.
During the traditional celebrations of Bangla New Year 1408, on April 1, 2001 at the capital’s Ramna Batamul, the heinous incident occurred killing 10 people and injuring 50 others.
Nine of the accused, including Hannan, are now in custody, while the remaining five including Moulana Tajuddin, brother of BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu, are on the run. All 14 accused were known to be operatives of Huji. – Court Correspondent
