IO was 'influenced' by ruling party, hearing told

The revision case was filed on February 2, 17 days after a lower court acquitted the accused including a BNP lawmaker Habibul Islam Habib.

Local AL leader Moslem Uddin had filed a case with a magistrate court accusing 27 people including the lawmaker as Kalaroa thana officer-in-charge (OC) declined to record the case.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Appearing for the complainant, former minister advocate Abdul Matin Khashru argued that investigation of the case was not "neutral" as Kalaroa thana OC was the investigation officer (IO).

The OC submitted the final report as he was "influenced by ruling party men", he argued.

The OC did not collect evidences and record statements of witnesses mentioned in the petition, he alleged.

On the other hand, all the witnesses also could not testify before the magistrate court, he argued. The magistrate rejected the 'naraji petition' submitted by lawyers and he did not give reasons for discharging the case. So, law was not followed in discharging the case, Khosru argued.

He was assisted by advocates Rahmat Ali MP, Abdul Mannan Khan and S M Haider.

The judge fixed March 11 for the next hearing.

Later on the day, Khosru exchanged views with newsmen at the Satkhira Bar library. He alleged that there is no rule of law in the country. There will be no peace and development till rule of law is established, he said.