Dhaka-Mufti Abdul Hannan, accused in a case filed in connection with keeping a 76 Kg bomb under the ground, near to a public meeting of Sheikh Hasina in Gopalganj 16 years ago, partially cross-examined the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case on Sunday.
Later, Judge Momtaj Begum of Speedy Tribunal-2 of Dhaka fixed December 21for further cross-examination of the IO, retired Senior Assistant Police Super Mushi Atiqur
Rahman. The lawyer of Mufti Hannan was not present in the court yesterday (Sunday).
Of the 25 accused of the case 9 in the jail and they were brought to the court on the occasion, another accused is on bail, while the remaining 15 are on the run.
On July 22, 2000, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was to address a public meeting at Kotalipara of Gopanganj. Two days earlier, police recovered the bomb from inside the ground. The police of Kotalipara Police Station filed two cases- one for attempt to murder, while the other case was filed Under the Explosive Substances Act. Police had investigated into the matter and found that militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad people kept the
Bomb there to kill Sheikh Hasina.
On April 8, 2001, police filed the charge sheet of case against 16 persons including Mufti Hannan. However, after further investigation, police filed a supplementary charge sheet of the case to the court including nine more accused to the court on June 29, 2009. -Special Correspondent
