Hussaini Dalan bomb blast: Trial stuck in limbo for witnesses’ absence
As the witnesses in the cases are not appearing before the court, it is not possible to complete the trial proceedings, said public prosecutor to TBS
Four years have passed. But the proceedings of the Hussaini Dalan grenade attack case hang in limbo as the witnesses are keeping away from attending the court.
"As the witnesses in the cases are not appearing before the court, it is not possible to complete the trial proceedings. In spite of issuing a non-bailable warrant against the witnesses, they are not appearing before the court," Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu told The Business Standard.
"It is now the responsibility of the police to bring the witnesses before the court. Police should play a more proactive role in this regard," he added.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"As it is a sensitive case, many witnesses may feel afraid to come before the court. We will try to bring the witnesses to the court in the next hearing," said Fazlur Rashid, additional deputy commissioner of DMP prosecution department.
Earlier, Judge (in-charge) Md Monir Kamal of the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal fixed September 9 for taking the witnesses.
However, Ruhul Amin, the bench assistant at the court, confirmed The Business Standard that no witness appeared before the court yesterday.
On May 31, 2017, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges' Court framed charges against 10 members of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in the trial. Later, the case was transferred to the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal.
Only 11 witnesses of the total 46 have so far been examined by the court. On October 22 last year, Abu Sayed appeared before the court as a witness. After that, no witness has gone to the court.
Superintendent of Police of Kishoreganj Masruqure Rahman Khaled, former investigation officer of the case, said, "The Hussaini Dalan attack was linked with the killing of a police assistant sub-inspector named Ibrahim Hossain Mollah."
On October 23, 2015, two persons, including a schoolboy named Sanju, 15, were killed and over 100 others injured when militants launched a terrible grenade attack at a crowd on the Hussaini Dalan premises.
During that time, people from the Shia community were gathering near the building to bring out a traditional Tajia procession to mark the holy Ashura.
The day marks the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), and the Shia community has been observing the day for centuries.
Sub-inspector Jalal Uddin of Chawk Bazar Police Station filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act over the incident. DB inspector Shafiuddin submitted a chargesheet against 10 accused on October 18, 2016.
Among the accused, Kabir Hossain, Jahid Hasan, Rubel Islam, Abu Sayeed, Arman and Masud are in jail, while Hafez Ahsan Ullah Masud, Shah Jalal, Omar Faruk and Chan Miah are on bail.
