Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mehedi Hasan on Wednesday has acquitted BNP Standing Committee member and Dhaka-8 candidate Mirza Abbas, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s adviser Aman Ullah Aman, and 43 other party leaders in two sabotage cases filed at Paltan and Shahjahanpur police stations.
The cases relate to incidents in 2013 when BNP activists allegedly obstructed police operations and attacked officers.
Regarding this matter, defense lawyer Mahi Uddin Chowdhury said, “The date was set for charge framing hearing in separate cases under the Speedy Trial Act in two police stations. We applied for their acquittal. After the hearing, the court granted this application and acquitted them of the charges in the case.”
Notable defendants granted bail include BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman, Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, former Dhaka North BNP convener and Dhaka-12 candidate Saiful Alam Nirab, BNP Joint Secretary Habib un Nabi Khan Sohel, former Organising Secretary of the Youth League Central Committee Ishak Sarkar, Dhaka South Youth League convener Khandakar Enamul Haque Enam, Dhaka-18 candidate and Dhaka North BNP Joint Convener SM Jahangir Hossain, BNP Central Executive Committee member and former Youth League Organising Secretary Mamun Hasan, National Executive Committee Volunteer Affairs Secretary Mir Sarafat Ali Safu, BNP Central Propaganda Secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku, and Dhaka-9 candidate and former Chhatra Dal Central Committee Secretary Habibur Rashid Habib, among others
.
The Paltan police station case alleges that between 1,000 and 1,200 BNP activists marched from its party headquarters towards Shantinagar on 3 February 2013. At Shantinagar Crossing around 5pm, they reportedly threw bricks, damaged vehicles, and obstructed police.
They allegedly threw five cocktail bombs at officers, injuring several. Sub-Inspector Mehedi Maksud filed the case at Paltan police station at the time.
On 26 March 2013, Sub-Inspector Aminul Islam filed a charge sheet against BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 26 others. The High Court later granted bail to Mirza Fakhrul and Barrister Moudud Ahmed.
Similarly, at Shahjahanpur police station, 150–200 BNP activists marched in Malibagh on 3 February 2013, causing disorder, obstructing police, throwing bricks, and setting police vehicles on fire, causing damage estimated at BDT 300,000, a case filed by Sub-Inspector Ashraf Ali the same day alleges.
On 20 March 2013, the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Ruhul Amin Munshi, submitted a charge sheet against Mirza Fakhrul and 23 other senior BNP leaders. The High Court later granted bail to Mirza Fakhrul and Barrister Moudud Ahmed in this case as well.
The two recent cases fall under the Speedy Trial Act. Magistrate Mehedi Hasan issued passed the judge after hearing the defence application.
