Policeman hurt in attack during half-day hartal in Shariatpur

A policeman was injured in an attack allegedly by a group of Awami League (AL) activists yesterday while the latter were observing a half-day hartal, expressing dissatisfaction over Sunday's judgement of a case filed for killing Public Prosecutor Habibur Rahman and his brother in Shariatpur in 2001.

Injured Bulbul Ahmed, a police constable, took treatment at Shariatpur Sadar Hospital.

"Some 25 to 30 protesters waylaid my motorcycle in front of Shariatpur Court around 9:30am while I was going to the court for official purpose," Bulbul told The Daily Star.

Although he introduced himself as a policeman, the protesters beat him up for defying the hartal, he added.

Officer in Charge (OC) of Palong Police Station Aslam Uddin said they detained Forhad Hossain Dhali and Sohel Rana Joy for their alleged involvement in the attack.

Shariatpur municipality Mayor Parvej Rahman John and his followers called a half-day hartal yesterday, said Anal Kumar Dey, general secretary of Shariatpur district unit AL.

Meanwhile, John, son of slain Habibur Rahman, during a protest rally yesterday claimed that some key accused in the case were acquitted from the charges.

On Sunday, Shariatpur Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Shawkat Hossain sentence six people to death, four others to life term imprisonment and another three to two-year imprisonment in the double murder case.

Meanwhile, 39 other accused in the case were acquitted from as charges brought against them could not be proved, according to the verdict.

On October 5 in 2001, Public Prosecutor (PP) Habibur Rahman, also joint general secretary of district unit AL, and his brother Monir Hossain were shot to death at their residence in Shariatpur Sadar upazila.

The following day, slain Habibur's wife Jinnat Rahman filed a case with Palong Police Station in this connection.