Sub Inspector Shafiqul Islam submitted charge sheet to the court on November 8 last year as IO of the case, accusing nine cadres of JMB for detonating bombs in four spots in the city.

The chargesheeted accused include JMB chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman and JMJB chief Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai. The case was filed with Khulna thana on the night of August 17 by SI Shafiqul Islam as complainant.

On the other hand, Sub Inspector Ajit Kumar submitted the charge sheet to court on November 8 last year as IO of the case accusing 10 cadres of JMB for exploding bombs at three spots in Dauelatpur. The chargesheeted accused include Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai. This case was filed with the Daulatpur police station, also on the night of August 17 by SI Ajit Kumar as complainant.

SI Ajit submitted a supplementary charge sheet in this case on January 15, adding the name of another JMB cadre Arifuzzaman Babu.

JMB ehsar Shahidullah alias Lokman and cadre Mahbubur Rahman Palash who are among the chargesheeted accused were produced before the District and Sessions Judges court when the trial began at noon yesterday.

Escorted by a platoon of armed police, they were brought to court from Khulna district Jail.

Shahidullah alias Lokman was arrested on September 8 last year from Dhaka while Mahbubur Rahman Palash was arrested on October 22 from Satkhira town. Both made statements to Khulna Metropolitan Magistrate court under Section 164 of CrPc, confessing their involvement in the August 17 serial bomb explosions in the city. The explosions were made on orders from JMB chief Abdur Rahman, he said.

The defendants had no lawyer. The state was represented by PP Akram Hossain.

Next hearing of the Khulna thana bomb blast case will be held on February 26 and that of Daulatpur thana bomb blast case on February 28.

A large number of security personnel were deployed in and around the court compound yesterday.