The New Nation - Internet Edition

Court Correspondent

Judge, Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka yesterday framed charge against 22 accuseds including former Deputy Minister and BNP MP detained Abdus Salam Pintu and Chief of the banned militant outfit Huji, Mufti Abdul Hannan in the two separate cases filed in consection with August 21 attack grenade.

Judge Masdar Hossain of the Tribunal fixed November 5 for recording the depositions of the witnesses. Earlier on October 27, the Judge fixed Wednesday for citing less points about whether charge would be framed against the accused or not. The prosecution and defence lawyers completed hearing on charge framing after after 13 deferrals.

The Judge Wednesday read out the charges in presence of 14 accused and they pleaded not guilty. Other eight accused of the case are on the run.

During the hearing Pintu's lawyers told the court, their client was indicted in the case following the confessional statements of Mufit Hannan, when he had told the Magistrate that, there was a meeting at Pintu's residence before the grenade attack. The defence lawyers added, nobody cannot be charged depending on the confessional statement of a co-accused. Meanwhile on October 27, Hannan was against placed on a two-day remand in another case filed for abducting a physician from Mirpur of the city. Hannan, accused in many cases, was earlier put on remand for more than 160 days for interrogation.

It may be recalled Mufti Hannan has already sought retraction of bin confessional statement he made in the grenade attack case. The prosecution lawyers tried to give explation on the involvement of the accused in the grenade attack.

The alleged grenade attack on an Awami League rally was held at Bangabandhu Avenue of the capital on August 21, 2004 which caused death of some 23 people including women Awami League leader Ivy Rahman and injuries to about 100 people.

Of the accused, leaving the eight fugitives, 13 are in jail and the other accused was released on bail. On June 11, this year Assistant Superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Fazlul Kabir, also the Investigation Officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the CMM Court of Dhaka showing 412 people as prosecution witnesses.