Udichi Blast Verdict
All 23 accused let off the hook
Judge orders legal action against investigation officer over false confessional statement
Our Correspondent, Jessore
A Jessore court yesterday acquitted all 23 accused in the sensational case for bomb attacks on an Udichi conference seven years ago in the district that killed 10 people and injured over 150.While pronouncing the judgment, the court observed that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges against the accused beyond doubt. The court also strongly reproached the investigation officer (IO) of the cases and suggested taking proper action against him for falsely preparing confessional statements of five accused. In his reaction, Jessore district General Secretary of Udichi Sukumar Das said, "We knew what will come in the verdict. After Mufti Hannan claimed his organisation's involvement in the attack, we demanded reinvestigation in the cases." All hell broke loose at 1:10am on March 7, 1999 as two powerful bombs went off during the interval of the 12th Annual National Conference of Udichi Shilpi Goshthi at Munshi Meherullah Maidan in Jessore town. The explosions, which police primarily suspected to have been triggered by a timing device, tore through the dais, killing two persons on the spot. Six more died at hospital the same day while two others died later. Twelve injured were maimed permanently. The dead are Shandha Rani, Nazmul Huda Tapan, Noor Islam, Bulu, Ilias Munshi, Babul Sutradhar, Shah Alam Milon, Ratan Roy, Shah Alam and Ram Krishna. Although May 30 had been fixed for announcing the verdict, it was deferred as the judge needed more legal explanation and arguments from both the prosecution and defence lawyers. Special District and Sessions Judge Abul Hossain Bepari started reading out the judgment at 11:57am in the presence of 22 of the 23 accused, lawyers from both the state and defence sides, and journalists. Huge security measures were taken on the court premises as thousands of curious people gathered to hear the verdict. As the charges against the accused were not proved "beyond doubt", the accused cannot be punished, the court said in the verdict, adding that no witness said they had seen the accused present at the Udichi programme during the blast. The acquitted accused are BNP leader Noor-un-Nabi, Ahsan Kabir Hasan, his brother Mizanur Rahman, former commissioner Mohiuddin Alamgir, Sirajul Islam Siraj, Abul Khayer, Bere Babu, Mehedi Hasan Litu, Mokaddes Hossain Babu, Murad alias "Bhejal" Murad, Saidur Rahman, Nowsher Ali, Shariful Islam Mintu alias Minta, Rabiul Islam Maron, Saidul Islam, Mostafa alias Mastan, Sohrab, Nantu, Khokon, Tariqur Rahman, Ashok Kumar, Mohsin and Alamgir. Five of them are in jail while one, Mizanur Rahman, has been absconding. On confessional statements of five accused, the court said they had not made any confessional statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). They were rather forced to sign on blank sheets of paper in Dhaka. But according to rules, they were to make their confessions before a local magistrate court. The state failed to produce any magistrate to certify that the confessions were made in his court, the court said. It suggested taking immediate legal action against IO Senior Additional Superintendent of Police (Criminal Investigation Department) Dulal Uddin Akand for falsely preparing the confessional statements. The verdict also cited statement of Harkatul Jihad leader Mufti Hannan claiming his organisation's responsibility for the attack on the Udichi conference as well as attacks at eight other places. PROCEEDINGS OF CASES
After the bomb blast, Sub-Inspector (SI) Abdul Aziz lodged two cases--one for murder and another for explosion--with Jessore Kotwali Police Station without naming anyone. Senior ASP Dulal submitted a charge sheet on December 14, 1999, accusing 24 persons including incumbent Environment and Forest Minister Tariqul Islam and BNP leader Noor-un-Nabi. The Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Jessore framed the charges against all 24 accused including Tariqul on July 19, 2000. Tariqul filed a revision and an appeal petition with the High Court (HC), seeking acquittal but the HC rejected his plea on August 14, 2000. The minister filed a leave to appeal petition against the HC rejection with the Appellate Division, which granted the leave and stayed proceedings of the case until disposal of the appeal. The Appellate Division cleared Tariqul of charges on August 13, 2003 and the stay on the proceedings was withdrawn on October 26, 2004. Recording statements of witnesses of the cases started on July 27 last year and ended last Tuesday. Thirty-one of 67 witnesses gave statements in the court.
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