Charges pressed against 89 Jamaat-Shibir, BNP men

Eighty-nine men belonging to Jamaat-Shibir and BNP have been charge-sheeted in two cases in connection with the attack on Hindus at Kornai village in Dinajpur Sadar upazila during the 10th parliamentary elections on January 5 last year.

Md Tariqul Islam and Manik Reza, inspectors of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Dinajpur, filed the charge sheets separately with the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Nazmul Hossain on May 31.

First hearing of the case was held yesterday.

A few of the key accused, now hiding, are Anisur Rahman Badsha, 37, chairman of Chehelgazi Union Parishad (UP) in Dinajpur Sadar upazila, its member and  local Jubo Dal leader Md Nazir Hossain, BNP leader Nurul Islam 45, chairman of Dharmajoin UP in Biral upazila, Jamaat leaders Tazibur Rahman, 50, and Dr Younus Ali, 48, of Dinajpur Sadar upazila.

Thirty-three of the charge-sheeted accused have been arrested so far and attempts are on to arrest the rest, police said.

In the afternoon on January 5 last year, Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men attacked the Hindus at Kornai village in Dinajpur Sadar upazila. 

Their 34 shops and two houses were torched and several others were looted and damaged, affecting 86 families, according to a list prepared by Dinajpur Sadar upazila parishad.

Later BGB of Dinajpur 2 Battalion repaired the damaged houses. 

The affected people alleged that they had come under attack for casting votes in the parliament election.

Fearing further attacks, two Hindu families left the country after the incident, said locals.

After the attack, two cases were filed with Dinajpur Kotwali Police Station and the home ministry referred those to the CID in Dinajpur.