Prima facie proof against Hasnat found

Police yesterday said they have found initial proof of former private university teacher Hasnat Karim's involvement in the July 1 bloody siege of Holey Artisan Bakery.

“It's very simple. There must have been prima facie proof, that's why he has been produced [accused] in the case," Abdul Baten, joint commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told journalists at the DMP media centre.

He also pointed out that it was the Counter Terrorism Unit of DMP which was investigating the case. “We don't produce [anyone] in a case unless there is any evidence against the person.”

The DB official then said Hasnat was interrogated for a long time while on remand and “those things were primarily established” before accusing him in the case.

“If prima facie proof is established against any person, he or she is produced [accused] in the case for the specific allegation [against him or her],” he said.

Prima facie is based on the first impression, even though it may later be proved untrue.

Hasnat Karim was shown arrested in a case filed in connection with the terror attack in Gulshan on Saturday. Hasnat is the first arrestee in the case.

In the militant attack, 20 hostages -- nine Italians, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, one Indian and one Bangladesh-born US citizen -- were killed. Two police officials were also murdered.

On Saturday, Hasnat and another arrestee, Tahmid Hasib Khan, were taken on a fresh remand as police claimed to have gleaned vital information from the duo during the previous remand.

Though Hasnat was shown arrested in the case, police chose to continue interrogating Tahmid under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for his "suspicious movement".