12 Jubo League, BCL men get 7 yrs RI

The convicts are Jubo League leader Faruk Ahmed alias Panama Faruk, his brothers Chhakku and Maana, district Chhatra League treasurer Sheik Masud Ahmed Rana alias Qutub Rana; and Sultan, Babul, Nazir, Babul Dhali, Nasir, Alal Hossain, Faruk Commander and Mostak, all activists of Jubo League or Chhatra League.

They were also fined Tk 5,000 each, in default to suffer more three months' RI.

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Judge Mahbubur Rahman of Barisal Special Tribunal No. 4 passed the verdict on Thursday in absentia.

They were tried under Section three of the Explosive Act, court sources said.

According to the prosecution story, the youths had attacked and looted houses of the then Barisal district BNP secretary Eabaidul Huq Chan and his late brother Firoz Ahmed adjacent to Amanatganj police outpost during daytime on October 10, 1999. Chan is now president of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

The attackers opened fire, exploded bombs, and torched the houses. They looted and destroyed properties more than Tk ten lakh.

But police declined to take any case.

Farida Begum, widow of Chan's brother, lodged a case on August 31, 2001 after formation of a caretaker government for holding parliamentary election.

The accused went into hiding after the caretaker government took over.