The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Barisal

A special court here yesterday acquitted all the 13 accused in one of the 12 cases filed in the sensational series bomb blasts in Barisal in 2005.

Judge of Barisal Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal Court Rabiul Hassan delivered the verdict saying the charges against them could not be proved and as such they were acquitted from the charges.

Sub-Inspector Mosharraf Hossain of Barisal Kotwali police station filed the case on the serial bomb blasts outside the local Roads and Highways Department (RHD) office on August 17, 2005.

Later Sub-Inspector Borhan Reza submitted the charge sheet on December 24 same year accusing the 13 in the case.

After examining 22 out of 25 witnesses and other records, judge Rabiul Hassan also ordered the release of the accused from custody if they are not wanted in any other case.

The acquitted persons are: Golam Morshed Chowdhury Reza, Jalal Arefin, Hafez Saiful Islam, Abu Yusuf Majumdar, Abu Solaiman Sujan, Maruf, Jasimuddin, Abdus Sobahan, Giasuddin, Sarwar, Abdur Rahim, Zahid Babu and Ziaur Rahman Zia.

Earlier, out of 12 cases filed in connection with the serial bomb blasts, trial in four cases were completed. In three of the tried cases, all the accused were also acquitted from the charges. But in one case seven accused were convicted, prosecution sources said.