Grenade Attack on Ex-British HC

Deposition of PWs deferred as prime accused absent

14 October 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Sylhet.

A Sylhet court yesterday deferred deposition of prosecution witnesses (PWs) in the case filed under Explosive Substances Act in connection with the grenade attack on former British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury and others to November 16, as none but one of the accused could be produced in the court. Police could not produce prime accused Mufti Abdul Hannan, his brother and three others in the court as they were in the capital in connection with some other cases. As one out of the six accusedDelwar Hossain Ripon-- was produced in the court, acting Additional District and Sessions Judge-IV Belayet Ullah fixed November 16 for recording the deposition of PWs. Three people were killed and 51 others, including the former British high commissioner, injured in the grenade attack on the premises of Hajrat Shahjalal's shrine after Juma prayers on May 21, 2004. The court has so far recorded the statements of 13 out of 58 prosecution witnesses, court source said. Another court here yesterday fixed November 26 for framing charges against the accused in the sensational bomb blast case of 2001. The incident took place hours before the public meeting of Sheikh Hasina in the city on September 26, 2001. As police produced only two of the six accused before the court, the judge fixed the fresh date for charge-framing, court sources informed. The accused are Huji chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, Masum Ahmed Shakil, Sheikh Shahjahan, Abu Obaida, Maulana Abu Sayeed and Dr Arif Ahmed Momtaj Rifa. Mufti Hannan and Maulana Abu Sayeed have been made accused in the supplimentary charge sheet. Abu Obaida was arrested in Sonagazi upazila under Feni district on Monday. Police on Tuesday produced him in a Feni court that sent him to jail. The then officer-in-charge of Sylhet Kotwali Police Station Abu Al Khair Matabbar filed two cases after the blast that took place at the house of physician-cum-businessman Dr Arif Ahmed Momtaz Rifa in the city's Fajil Chist area. A group of youths were making bombs at Dr Arif's house. Suddenly a bomb went off, killing three on the spot. Investigators said the bombs were making for attack on Hasina's rally at Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa Maidan.