A gross mistake by the stateside in placing the documentary evidence in the court has stood in the way of disposing of the sensational Ramna Batamul blast case, already pending for 13 years.
The case now lies with the court of Dhaka’s Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions’ Judge.
In the wake of an application by the state, the court has recently recalled the investigation officer of the case as a mistake committed by the stateside during the testimony was detected by the defence counsel, according to sources at the court.Investigation Officer Abu Hena M Yusuf on March 24 last year submitted a sketch-map of a house located in the capital’s Mohammadpur area, where the accused allegedly made the plot of the bomb blast. But the map was not identified before the court as an exhibit, the sources said.
During the defence arguments, it was found that the evidence chapter was closed without submitting the sketch-map due to mistake of the state prosecutors.
As a result, the stateside had to make an appeal to the court seeking to provide further testimony of its witness fearing that the state might lose the legal battle.
While placing the closing argument in the court recently, state prosecutor SM Jahid Sarker filed a petition with the court for recalling the investigation officer so that the sketch map can be identified as an exhibit in support of documentary evidence to prove the case.
Backing the plea, the state prosecutor said the court can recall witnesses at any stage of the trial proceedings for ends of justice.
But the defence counsel opposed the state plea saying that the IO should not be recalled to remove state errors at the argument stage, the sources added.
Finally, turning down the defence argument, the court accepted the state appeal.
Following the trial court order, the defence counsel decided to go to the High Court challenging the impugned court order resulting in further delay in disposing of case proceedings.
On April 14, 2001, 10 people were killed and many others injured in a powerful blast during the traditional celebrations of Bangla New Year at the Ramna Batamul.
Two cases — one for killing and the other under the Explosive Substances Act — were filed after the horrendous incident.
On November 29, 2008, Criminal Investigation Department Inspector Abu Hena Mohammad Yusuf pressed charges against 14 suspected operatives of militant outfit Harkat-ul Jihad al Islami, including its chief Mufti Abdul Hannan.
The court framed charges against them on April 16, 2009.
The other charge-sheeted accused are Arif Hasan Suman alias Abdur Razzak, Maulana Akbar Hossain alias Helaluddin, Shahadat Ullah alias Jewel, Maulana Abu Taher, Maulana Abdur Rauf, Maulana Abdul Hannan Sabbir, Maulana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid, Maulana Yahiya, Maulana Mohammad Tajuddin, Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Hawlader, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman and Mufti Abdul Hye.
Of them, the first nine accused are behind the bars while the remaining five are on the run.
The nation and the victims’ family members are still waiting for justice, though the awful attack that had killed 10 people and injured over 50 others is going to cross 13 years on Monday, (Pahela Boishakh) the first day of Bangla calendar year. – UNB
