Case for Grenade Attack on British HC
Warrant against 10 PWs for skipping court
A court here yesterday issued warrant against the former president of the district Bar association and 9 others for failing to appear before the court despite repeated summons to give deposition in the sensational case (for explosive substances) for the grenade attack on the then British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury.
Additional District & Sessions Judge-V Manzurul Haque Khan gave the order to issue warrants against former district Bar association president Abdul Hai Khan, inspector Shafiqul Alam of DB police, SM Khokan Rana, Kawsar Ahmed, Mashuk Ahmed, Abul Kalam Azad, Main Uddin Ahmed, Mofazzal Hossain, Matiar Rahman and Cherag Ali.
The judge set 29 March as the next date for recording deposition by the prosecution witnesses (PWs) in the case, court sources said.
Kingpin of outlawed Huji Mufti Abdul Hannan, his brother Muhibullah alias Muhibur Rahman and Mufti Mainuddin alias Masum Billah could not be brought to Sylhet. However, other accused Huji activists Delwar Hossain Ripon and Shahedul Alam Bipul were produced before the court yesterday.
Two cases, one for murder and the other for explosive substances, were filed in connection with the grenade attack on the then British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Chowdhury, after Jum'a prayers on 21 May, 2004 in front of the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet.
Three people were killed while over 50 others including the district Bar president Abdul Hai Khan sustained injuries in the incident.
The Divisional Speedy trial tribunal of Sylhet on 23 December, 2008 awarded death to Mufti Hannan, Shahedul Alam Bipul and Delwar Hossain Ripon while Mufti Muhibur Rahman and Mufti Main Uddin were sentenced for life and fined Tk 10,000 each, in default, to suffer 2 years more in jail.
The same group of accused are facing trial in the case for explosive substances.
So far deposition of 19 out of 57 prosecution witnesses has been recorded in the case.
But, due to non-appearance of the PWs, the trial process is being hampered badly and delayed, said APP Jashim Uddin Ahmed yesterday.
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