Court starts fresh trial of former JMB head Maulana Saidur Rahman

A Dhaka court has resumed the trial of former JMB head Maolana Saidur Rahman and two others in an Anti-Terrorism Act case.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Kamrul Hossain framed the charges on Tuesday and sent the case details to Special Judge Court 6.

Saidur, who is currently in jail, was produced in court for the hearing. He pleaded not guilty and asked for justice.

The court has set Mar 22 for recording testimonies of witnesses.

The two other accused, Abdullahel Kafi alias Abdullahel Kadri and his wife Ayesha Akter, have been absconding since obtaining bail, said Additional State Counsel Taposh Pal.

On May 24, 2010, police arrested the three operatives of banned outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh from a house near Donia Nur Mosque in Dhaka and seized books on extremism and anti-government publications from their possession.

A case was started against them at Kodomtoli Police Station for trying to create unrest in the country.

Dhaka's Special Judge Court 6 started their trial after police prepared the charge sheet. Five, on behalf of the state, testified in the court on Jan 16, 2011.

However, the trial was stalled as it did not secure approval of the home ministry, an essential prerequisite for any trial under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The case details were sent to the concerned ministry on Sep 8, 2015, for approval.

The case gained momentum after getting approval from the ministry on Aug 26 last year.

Then the court took the charges pressed by police into cognizance once again and set the date for hearing them.