Bring real culprits to book without any political motive

On this day last year, 18 people were killed and over 100 injured in a series of bomb blasts in cinemas.

Mymensingh Bomb Blasts Tragedy Day Observance Committee in observance of the day took different programmes including hoisting of black flags atop the buildings, mourning procession and rallies. To mark the day cinemas in the district town remained closed.

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People from all walks of life took part in daylong programmes.

The Committee in a procession submitted separate memorandums to the Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Sheikh Hasina and Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury through local Deputy Commissioner yesterday morning.

Earlier, a rally was held in front of the DC's office. Advocate Nazrul Islam Chunnce, Advocate Emdadul Haque Nillat, Advocate Badar Ahmed, Principal Reazul Islam and leaders of Cinema Halls Employees Union addressed the rally.

A human chain was formed at Shaheed Firoj-Jahangir Square in the afternoon. During the formation of human chain, movement of vehicles was stopped for a minute to express sympathy to the bomb blast victims. Lawyers, teachers, journalists, students and injured of the blasts, and family members of the incident joined the human chain.

The speakers during the human china said police on suspicion arrested 30 people including 15 employees of the cinemas but the real culprits are yet to be nabbed.

They urged the government to bring the real culprits to book to reveal the facts without any political motive and to drop the charges against the innocent people who have been implicated in the cinema blasts cases. The investigation into the cases is yet to be completed even after a year of the incident.

Ajanta Cinema owner Salimullah Babu lost his one leg, operator Fazal Miah two legs, Babu two legs and Liton one leg during the blasts in four cinemas- Ajanta, Chhayabani, Aloka and Purobi. Addressing the human chain they demanded rehabilitation as all the victims and their family members had been leading a sub-human life.

Noor-Jahan, Baby, Rabeya and Rabia who lost their near and dear ones also attended the rally. They burst into tears while describing their miseries to this correspondent.