A Dhaka court yesterday fixed May 31 for hearing on charge framing of the first sedition case against eight Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leaders and activists of Dhamrai area.

Judge Mohammad Golam Hossain of the Additional District Judge and Bankruptcy Court set the hearing date after scrutinising the case docket.

The court also fixed the same date for hearing on the bail petition filed by defence lawyers for Sentu, one of the eight accused in the case.

The accused are Mohammad Rafiqul Islam alias Sentu, 22, Mohammad Wahab, 26, Yaqub Ali, 21, Anwar Hossain, 23, Faruq Hossain alias Kosai Faruq, 25, Mohammad Wahiduzzaman alias Pintu, 20, Abdus Salam, 22, and Nurul Islam, 23. Of them, Sentu is now in custody while the others are still at large.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Iqbal Hossain, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet on December 27 last year against the accused to a first class magistrate's court in the city, showing 25 people as prosecution witnesses.

On February 20, 2005 Dhamrai police arrested Sentu, Wahab, Yaqub, Anwar, Faruq and Salam with nine manuals on bomb making and other contraband materials on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway.

Thirteen days into their arrest, the arrestees were released on bail.

Investigating the case, Dhamrai police found that the activities of the accused were seditious.

With approval from the home ministry, SI Zehad Hossain of the police station filed the sedition case against the accused on September 11.

Sentu was re-arrested in November while the others have been absconding.