37 AL men indicted for vandalism in Barisal

Ismail Hossain, general secretary of the pro-BNP Tempo Sramik Union filed the case.

According to police and party sources, the AL men have been charged with creating panic by damaging vehicles under Sections 4 and 5 of the Speedy Trial Act as well as possession and use of explosives under Sections 3,4 and 8 of the explosives act.

Sub-inspector Nurul Amin has been made investigating officer of the case and the case is being personally supervised by Jahangir Alam, officer-in-charge of Barisal Kotwali Police Station.

Police have been tight-lipped about the investigation, refusing to disclose any information to lawyers, journalists or even to other police officers. Under the circumstances, the AL leaders have reportedly left Barisal for Dhaka on late Thursday night to seek bail from the High Court.

Due to the absence of AL leaders and workers in the field, no programme for August 15, the day of Bangabandhu's assassination, was observed in Barisal town at the party level.

Meanwhile, the AL programme to mourn Bangabandhu's assassination was foiled by BNP cadres at Mathbaria of Pirojpur district after AL activists played recorded speeches of Bangabandhu over the loudspeaker.