A Dhaka court has acquitted BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, and 65 others in a case filed under the Explosive Substances Act, in connection with the BNP clash with police in 2023.
On Tuesday, the court accepted the final report submitted by the police, recommending the acquittal of the 67 accused. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Sabbir Faiz passed the order, as confirmed by defense lawyer Zakir Hossain Jewel.
Other prominent accused in the case include BNP Standing Committee Members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, former Home Minister and BNP Vice Chairman Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, former BNP leader and ex-Awami League MP Barrister Shahjahan Omar, BNP Chairperson’s advisor Zainul Abedin Faruk, Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Joint Secretary Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, BNP Student Affairs Secretary Rofiqul Islam Bakul, BNP leader Nasir Uddin Ashim, and Nipun Roy Chowdhury, among others.
According to case documents, BNP organised a large rally in Dhaka on 28 October 2023 as part of its central programme.
On the same day, the ruling Awami League called a counter-rally, and violent clashes broke out between the police, Awami League activists, and BNP leaders and workers. Many people were injured in the skirmishes.
Two days later, on 31 October, a case was filed under the Penal Code and the Explosive Substances Act at Paltan police station by Sub-Inspector Abdul Awal of Ramna Model Police Station.
After investigating the case, police found no substantial evidence against the BNP leaders and workers, and on 21 September of the previous year, police filed a final report recommending their acquittal.
