The elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) 7 has submitted the charge to a court in Chittagong implicating 28 activists of newly formed militant outfit Shaheed Hamja Brigade (SHM) including Barrister Shakila Farzana and two other lawyers in the case filed under Anti Terrorism Act.
Chief Commanding Officer (CO) of RAB-7 Lieutenant Commander Mifta Uddin Ahmed to the Dhaka Tribune that RAB-7 Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ruhul Amin also the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case submitted the charge sheet against the 28 to the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate of Banshkhali upazila in Chittagong on Sunday.
“Implicating 28 persons including Supreme Court’s Barrister Shakila Farzana and two other lawyers— Advocate Md Hasanuzzaman Liton and Dhaka Judge Court’s Advocate Mahfuz Chowdhury Bapon, RAB submitted the charge sheet under the Anti Terrorism Act in the case filed with Banshkhali police station”, said Mifta.
Barrister Shakila Farzana, daughter of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)’s former whip Sayed Wahidul Alam and two other lawyers were arrested on August 18 in last year by RAB for their alleged funding to the militant.
It is the second charge sheet against the SHB by RAB while another charge sheet against 11 persons of SHB was also submitted to a court in Chittagong on last Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Mifta said: “Of the 28 persons, seven accused were on the run while 21 were behind the bar in the case.”
“Apart from that 102 were made as witnesses in the case while around 42 persons including SHB’s donor Dubai expatriate Allama Libidi were not implicated in the case as their details information could not be confirmed yet.”
“The 42 persons will be implicated in the charge sheet when their detail identities and addressed will be found”, he added.
The elite force, on tipped off, had busted a hideout of Hamja Brigade also a training camp in a hilly area named Lotmoni Pahar in Banshkhali upazila in Chittagong on February 22 in last year.
Later three AK-22 rifles, seven pistols, a revolver, eight machetes, some pairs of army combat shoes and boots, huge number of bullets of different guns, some walky-talky sets some track-suits from their possession were seized from the spot while firing ranges and bunkers were also found indicating a dangerous militant training of SHB, according to the RAB.
Five persons were arrested during the drive. Later RAB found the link of the three lawyers and a RMG businessman connection with SHB.
