Attack on Marcia Bernicat's convoy: court accepts charges against nine

A Dhaka court today accepted the charges brought against nine accused in a case filed over the attack on former US ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat's convoy in August 2018.

The accused are: Firoz Mahmud, Naimul Hasan Rasel, Mir Amzad Hossain Akash, Sazu Islam, Razibul Islam Razu, Shahidul Alam Khan Kajol, Mozahid Azmi Tanna, Siam and Oli Ahmed Jony.

Of them, Firoz Mamud is on the run while the rest secured bail on different dates after the charge sheet was submitted.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mainul Islam passed the order after scrutinising case dockets and other relevant documents in the case.

The magistrate issued arrest warrant against Firoz, the fugitive accused, and directed officer-in-charge of Mohammadpur Police Station to submit -- by April 27 -- the report on execution of arrest warrant.

On January 20, after around two and a half years of investigation, Md Abdur Rouf, inspector of Detective Branch (DB) of police and investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka against nine local leaders and activists of Awami League and Chhatra League.

Shusashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar filed the case with Mohammadpur Police Station on August 10, 2018 following the attack.

On August 4, 2018, the nine accused along with some 15 to 20 unidentified people gathered near the Iqbal Road residence of Badiul Alam Majumder and chased the car of Marcia Bernicat.

The accused then threw brick chips at her car, the probe report said.

Later, the accused vandalised the house of the complainant and made death threats to his wife and son, according to the charge sheet.