The names of two of the 24 accused in a case filed over the recent clashes in Dhaka's New Market area have caused quite a stir.
A legal counsel for the accused in the case, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, said the 23rd accused in the case, Mintu, died two years ago and the fourth accused, Tipu, a former president of Dhaka College Chatra Dal, has been living in Japan for seven years.
“The names of dead and expatriate people in the list clearly indicates that the case was filed for political revenge," he told the Bangla daily Prothom Alo.
The High Court on Tuesday directed 14 of the accused, who were sued for obstructing police work and attacking Dhaka College students during the clashes, to surrender to the lower court within six weeks.
They were also granted anticipatory bail, he added.
Amir Hossain Alamgir, Mizan, Hasan Jahangir Mithu, Harun Hawlader, Shah Alam Santu, Shahidul Islam Shahid, Japanese Faruk, Mizan Bepari, Asif, Rahmat, Billal, Monir, Julhas and Babul got the bail.
On April 20, police filed two cases in connection with the clashes.
One was filed under the Explosives Act, and the other for sabotage, provocation and assault on police.
A total of 1,200 people, including traders, shop workers and students of Dhaka College, were accused in the cases.
Another case was started on April 23 against 150-200 unidentified people for vandalizing an ambulance during the clashes.
On April 22, police arrested BNP leader Moqbul Hossain in connection with the clashes and placed him on police remand.
A member of the BNP’s Dhaka south unit, Moqbul is a former president of BNP’s New Market thana unit. He owns the two fast food shops – Welcome and Capital – from where the clash ensued on April 18.
Some Chhatra League activists, after being assaulted, went back to Dhaka College for reinforcements and attacked New Market around midnight.
On the morning of April 19, the college students took to the streets protesting the assault and engaged in violent clashes with the traders and workers.
Nahid, a delivery man for an Elephant Road computer accessories store, sustained severe injuries in the violence. He died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital the same night.
Another store worker named Mursalin was wounded in the head by a thrown brickbat. He later died in a hospital.
Two murder cases were started over their deaths.