A Dhaka court yesterday indicted 89 BNP leaders and activists, including its Joint Secretary General Amanullah Aman, in two cases filed for vandalising and torching vehicles.
A total of 89 BNP leaders and activists, including Aman, International Affairs Secretary Nazim Uddin Alam, former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president Sultan Salauddin Tuku and its Dhaka district unit President Rezaul Karim Paul, were present at the court as the order was passed.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Nazmul Haque Shyamal of the Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal fixed January 5, 2015 for commencing the trial with depositions of witnesses.
The defence had filed a discharge petition, arguing that its clients had been arrested and implicated in the case to harass them and ruin their political image, but the magistrate rejected it and framed the charges.
All the accused pleaded innocent and sought justice when the prosecution read out the charges in front of them in the two cases.
Sixty-seven of the 89 BNP leaders, including Aman and Nazim, were present in the court during the hearing, while others had sought time through their counsels.
The court, however, rejected their time petitions and issued warrants for their arrest.
Sub-Inspector Abdul Haque Shikdar of Savar Model police station had filed a case in connection with vandalising and torching of vehicles at Aminbazar on December 9, 2012.
Investigation officer SI Md Moniruzzaman submitted the charge sheets against 65 people, including Aman and Nazim, on December 25 that year.
The other case was filed by a person named Abdul Jalil with the same police station in connection with damaging and torching of vehicles in front of Tetuljhara College at Aminbazar on the same day.
SI Sazzad Roman of the police station investigated the incident and pressed charges against 24 BNP men, including Aman and former MP Dewan Salauddin Babu, on December 23, 2012.
