Towhid Zaman
BDNEWS Correspondent
Jessore, June 28 (BDNEWS) – A court in Jessore Wednesday acquitted all the 23 accused in the sensational Udichi carnage case.
Jessore district judge (special judge) Mohammad Abul Hossain Bepari pronounced the verdict at a crowded courtroom at 11.50am.
All the accused persons, excepting Mizanur Rahman, were present on the dock during the delivery of the judgement.
A total of 10 people were killed and nearly 100 injured when two bombs planted beforehand went off at the conference of Udichi Shilpi Goshti, a progressive cultural organisation, at the Town Hall Maidan on March 6, 1999 in Jessore.
Among the injured, 10 people became crippled permanently.
The acquitted persons were Mahiuddin Alamgir, Sirajul Islam, Abul Khayer, Nurunnabi and his brothers Ahsan Kabir Hasan and Mizan, Ashraful Alam alias Bere Babu, Mehedi Hasan Litu, Mokaddes Hasan Babu, Murad alias Bhejal Murad, Saidur Rahman Sayeed, Nowsher Ali, Shariful Islam alias Minto, Rabiul Islam alias Moron, Saiful Islam, Mostofa alias Mastan, Sohrab, Sultan alias Nantu, Daud Sarder, Asaduzzaman alias Harainna Khokan, Tabbir Morol alias Tobi Morol, Ashok Kumar and Mohasin.
Earlier, Environment and Forest Minister Tariqul Islam, also a vice president of BNP, was acquitted by the Supreme Court from the charge.
During delivery of the judgement, the judge said that the state had totally failed to produce the evidences and proofs in the case. Besides, the investigation officer (IO) of the case submitted the charge sheet being politically motivated and therefore the IO did not produce the accused persons and witnesses before the magistrate.
The judge mentioned that the IO, CID SP Dulaluddin Akand, also admitted that he had realised the confessions from five accused and seven witnesses by taking them in Dhaka and that is why the statements are not acceptable.
The judge said that he had already directed the concerned departments to take immediate legal action against the plaintiff of the case, SI Aziz, and IO Dulaluddin Akand.
The special judge, Mohammad Abul Hossain Bepari, also said that the court had to acquit all the 23 accused due to lack of sufficient evidences and proofs. Besides, the submissions and arguments of the lawyers of the accused and state did not prove that the accused were guilty.
The judge added that although arrested Harkatul Jihad Al-Islami, Bangladesh (Hujibi) leader Mufti Hannan confessed his involvement with the carnage to RAB, it does not prove that the accused persons were involved with the massacre.
The earlier date of the judgement was fixed on May 30. But following the request of the lawyers of both the accused and plaintiff, the judge expressed his views that more legal explanations in the case were required.
When asked after the verdict, assistant public prosecutor (APP) Meer Ali Mortoza declined to make any comment on the verdict.
He said the government would decide about the next step after receiving the copy of the judgement.
The lawyer of the accused persons, Kazi Towhidur Rahman, however, expressed his satisfaction over the verdict.
The accused persons and their supporters brought out a procession in the town.
A huge contingent of law enforcers was deployed on the court area since the morning.
After the brutal attack, Kotwali thana SI Abdul Aziz filed a killing case and an arms case in this connection.
The cases were handed over to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) three days after the massacre.
The IO of the case, CID SP Dulaluddin Akand, submitted the chargesheet on December 14 in 1999 after 9 months of investigation accusing 24 people.
Soon after the 4-party alliance came to power in 2001, the BNP led government formed a three-member commission led by Justice Abdul Bari Sarkar to probe seven bomb attack incidents, including the Udichi carnage.
The commission in its report submitted on September 16 in 2002 commented that opposition Awami League leaders were involved with the Udichi killings and therefore another case was filed on June 29 in 2005 accusing 23 people.
BDNEWS/1702 hrs
