Indictment of 121 Jamaat men
Counsels show no confidence in judge
The counsels of 121 leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday expressed no confidence in a Dhaka metropolitan magistrate as he rejected their petitions submitted for altering charges framed earlier against their clients in two cases.
The leaders include acting secretary general ATM Azharul Islam.
The cases were filed against them with Ramna and Paltan police stations for damaging vehicles, assaulting police, and obstructing them from doing their duties on September 19 last year.
In the petitions, the lawyers said the court on January 15 framed charges against all the 121 accused under the same sections, even though some of them were charged with damaging vehicles while some others with assaulting police and obstructing them from doing their duties.
The counsels also orally appealed to the court to try four of the accused under the Juvenile Act as they are below 16.
After the hearing, Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur of the Speedy Trial Court-6 rejected their pleas, saying that the accused could go to the higher court against his orders.
Charges were framed against Jamaat's acting ameer Maqbul Ahmad and 10 others in their absence as they are on the run.
On September 19, hundreds of Jamaat activists clashed with police, torched and vandalised vehicles and shops at Kakrail, Bijoynagar, and Shantinagar in the city, leaving at least 100 people injured.
On September 28, Ramna and Paltan police submitted charge sheets against the accused.
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