40 Barisal AL men to be chargesheeted today

Sources said the charge sheet has been framed under the Explosives Act and the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act which provides for submission of charge sheet within seven days of case-filing.

Originally, 37 persons were accused in the case, filed by Md Ismail Hossain, secretary of BNP supported Tempo Sramik Union in the town.

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All the originally accused 37 got interim bail from the High Court on Sunday till charge-framing.

The sources said nine persons have been included in the list of accused and six including two ward commissioners and two leaders of AL's student front Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) have been dropped.

The names of persons dropped include ward commissioners Nizamuddin Ahmed and Fazlu, former vice-president of BM College students union Taslimuddin Ahmed and former secretary of district BCL Tarik bin Islam.

The nine include Munir Hossain, president of Awami Sechchhasebok League; Syed Anis, office secretary of district AL; Manirul Hassan Khan, secretary in charge of district AL.

It is alleged in the case that the AL men damaged tempos when they were going to Tungipara marking the death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

According to investigation officer of the case SI Nurul Amin of Barisal Kotwali, police have found sufficient proof to frame charges against the accused.

AL sources said the accused will appear before the High Court again for permanent bail as the case is politically motivated to harass them. Lower courts have no authority to grant bail in cases filed under the Act.