70 BNP men dropped from 23 murder cases in Naogaon

Names of 21 more accused in the cases are in the process of being dropped.

The cases include one for the double murder of Awami League leader advocate Siddikur Rahman Raza and Sramik League leader Arun on March 30, 1999 in Atrai in Naogaon.

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Twenty-seven people were killed in the 23 murders. All the victims were leaders and activists of Awami League and its front organisations, sources claimed.

The names have been withdrawal after separate prayers to the District Judge's court by the Naogaon district administration following orders from the Home Ministry, Public Prosecutor (PP) Mohammad Joynal Abedin told this correspondent on Sunday.

All the accused are local leaders and activists of ruling BNP or its front organisations, other sources claimed.

Of the 70, 27 were among 41 accused in the Raza-Arun double murder case. Their names were dropped as per a Home Ministry order (Memo No. mls-21/2001(Law-1)(S.M.-1) / 1183, dated 05.04.2003).

The PP said trial of the Raza-Arun case has been stopped following withdrawal of names of the 27 accused because witnesses are not appearing before court now.

All the murders were committed during 1998-2003. The victims include Jubo League leader Lal Mohammad Lalu, Golam Nabi, Abdul Latif Khan, Belal Hossain, Mozibur Rahman, advocate Abdus Sattar, Nazrul Islam Nazu, Munsur Rahman, Mozibor Rahman, Shakawat Hossain, Mozaffor Hossain, Munsur, Mozibor Rahman, Bhutto, advocate Sobhan Chowdhury, Bisha Union Parishad chairman Hazi Mozammel Haque, Sohagi Begum, brothers Gias Uddin and Abdul Jobber, Salamot Hossain Chowdhury and Abul Hossain.