Jhalakathi judges' murder trial begins in Barisal STT

JMB suicide bomber Mamun being taken to court in Barisal yesterday

JMB (Jamaatul Mujahideen, Bangladesh) suicide bomber Iftikhar Hasan Al Mamun alias Mamun Ali alias Shihab, principal accused in the case, was produced before the tribunal at noon amid tight security.

Mamun, whose right leg was amputated from knee due to injury in the bomb attack on the two judges, was clad in a a bulletproof jacket and a helmet when he was taken to the court.

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Senior Assistant Judges Jagannath Parey and Sohel Ahmed were killed in the suicide bomb attack on their microbus at Jhalakati, made by Mamun on November 14 last year. The microbus blew up in the horrific blasts.

At the court yesterday, Special Public Prosecutor Majibar Rahman Nantu prayed for producing all the accused persons before the court and framing charges against them.

Mamun was asked whether he would like to appoint a lawyer for him.

As he agreed, advocate Mokhlesur Rahman was appointed his attorney by the Legal Aid Committee while Advocate Samsuddin was appointed by the state to plead for the two absconded accused.

STT Judge M A Matin fixed January 8 for the next hearing and directed the authorities concerned to produce rest of the accused before the court and to frame charges against them.

At one stage, the Judge inquired about Mamun's physical condition and asked police to remove the handcuff and to provide him with necessary medical treatment.

Two cases were filed with Jhalakati Sadar thana by the microbus driver, Sultan Ahmed; one under the Explosives Act and the other for homicide.

Five others accused in the cases are Sultan Hossain, Ataur Rahman Gazi, Abdul Awal, Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Siddiquer Rahman Banglabhai, chief of JMB.

The trial followed submission of the charge sheet of the Explosives Act case by investigation officer Sohrab Ali on November 30. The other case is under investigation, court sources said.