Bijoynagar Violence
161 Jamaat men charged
A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against 161 Jamaat-e-Islami men including its acting ameer Maqbul Ahmad and acting secretary general ATM Azharul Islam in connection with violence in the capital's Bijoynagar on September 19.
Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur of the Speedy Trial Court-6 passed the order after rejecting petitions of the accused for clearing them of the charges.
Meanwhile, trial of another case filed with Ramna Police Station against Maqbul, ATM Azharul and 118 others began yesterday.
On September 19 last year, several hundred Jamaat activists fought pitched battles with the police in the capital after law enforcers foiled their rally, leaving at least 100 injured.
The party men set fire to at least 28 vehicles, broke around 200 others and vandalised dozens of roadside shops, police said.
Two cases were filed-- one with Paltan Police Station while another with Ramna Police Station-- on charges of assaulting police, disrupting traffic movement and creating anarchy.
Azharul and 154 accused present at the court yesterday pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out to them. Of them, 149 are now on bail while six are in jail.
The court also framed charges against Maqbul Ahmad and five others, in their absence, as they are absconding.
The court fixed February 6 for starting the trial of the case.
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