Charges framed against Dulu, 93 others for arson, looting
Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi
The Court of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) in Natore yesterday framed charges against 94 persons including former BNP deputy minister Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar Dulu for arson and looting at three villages under Naldanga upazila in 2004.ADM Rawnak Mahmud also fixed Monday to start trial of the case. The accused include Dulu's two brothers-- Nabi Talukhdar and Rafik Talukhdar, cousins-- Atikur Rahman, Nurunnabi Talukhdar, Abidur Rahman and Mojibor Rahman, nephews-- Rentu, Belal, Helal and Bulbul, nephew-in-law Rahim Newaz, and Natore municipal ward commissioners Sadrul Huda Dambel and Nasim Khan. Meanwhile, Natore District and Sessions Judge Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan deferred the date of charge framing in the other part of the same case under explosives act until Wednesday saying shifting of the case to Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal is now underway following a petition by the police. President of Natore district Jatiya Chhatra Samaj Asaduzzaman Shah filed the case with Naldanga Police Station (PS) on February 25 accusing 105 people. Officer-in-Charge of Naldanga PS Arman Hossain submitted two separate charge sheets-- one for arson and looting and another under explosives act-- accusing total 94 persons on May 3. According to the charge sheets, the accused launched a series of attacks at Ramsa Kazipur (Dulu's home village), Shahpara and Amtali Bazar on Dulu's directives to retaliate murder of his nephew Sabbir Ahmed Gama on February 7 in 2004. Hearing the murder news, Dulu rushed to the spot and began the attacks torching Asaduzzaman's straw-made house himself. In a couple of days, some 37 households and shops were torched spraying gunpowder and belongings of the houses were also looted. Dulu's armed cadres unleashed a reign of terror in the areas by blasting bombs and firing gunshots, according to the charge sheets. Dulu along with 23 other accused were produced before the court during charge framing. The ex-deputy minister was taken to Natore from Rajshahi Central Jail at around 1.15pm. On his way to the court, Dulu got angry as the reporters were taking photos. "Hey policemen, stop the journalists. I will not move if you do not stop them. I am in jail because of them (journalists)." "Leave me. I am not that type of man who will try to flee away," Dulu shouted when police started dragging him instead of stopping newsmen.
| 
