Charge not framed in 4 years

No charge has been framed, four years into the brutal killing of four people in an attack by BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists on the motorcade of local lawmaker Asaduzaman Noor (now minister for cultural affairs), at Ramganj Haat in Nilphamari Sadar upazila.

On the night of December 12 in 2013, BNP-Jamaat men set fire on over 200 houses of Hindu families and injured many at Polashbari, Tronibari, Laxmichap, Beltoli and Kachhari villages in the upazila.

This was done apparently to vent their wrath after execution of Jamaat's central assistant secretary general Abdul Kader Mollah on charge of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

On December 14, Asaduzzaman Noor coming from Dhaka went to the spots with a motorcade to give aid to affected families.

On way, several hundred BNP-Jamaat activists attacked them with sharp weapons at Ramganj Haat, killing Krishok League leader Khorshed Alam, 50, Jubo League leaders Murad Hossen, 28, and his brother Farhad Hossain, 18, and activist Lebu, 30.

The charge framing in the case filed in connection with the incident is being delayed as the state side sought time again and again.

“The case was transferred to District and Sessions Judge's Court from Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on September 1 last year for framing charges,” said Abdul Mazid, court inspector in Nilphamari.

Additional District and Sessions Judge's Court fixed July 13 this year for framing charge and then re-fixed the date for November 22, but each time government lawyers filed prayer for time showing the reason that they were not prepared. Now the next date is 15 February next year.

Nazmul Huq Shah, 55, father of killed Farhad Hossain and Murad Hossain, said, “We are waiting for justice. Our agony doubles when we learn that state side is not ready for the proceedings.”

Contacted, Additional Public Prosecutor Azizul Huq admitted taking time through prayer and said, “It is done for greater interest of the case as we are working to bring the culprits to book.”

The then officer in charge (investigation) of Sadar Police Station Babul Akter filed a case in connection with the incident and later another petition case was lodged by a deceased family.

Dead bodies of four accused, killed by unknown quarters, were later found at different places.

Charged sheet was submitted in mid July 2015.

Of the 206 accused, 26 are fugitive, one is in jail and the rest are free on bail granted by the High Court.