Names of 11 out of 14 accused dropped

The names of 11 of the 14 accused in the case for killing former municipal chairman Sheikh Shahidullah Bacchu have been dropped as Pabna District and Sessions Judge's Court on Sunday accepted home ministry's recommendations in this regard.
The 11 people relieved from the charge are Pabna Sadar upazila chairman Md Mosharaf Hossain, also the president of upazila unit AL, Pabna Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Abdul Latif Bishwas, Motahar Hossain Mukai, Anwar Hossain Surjo, Abdul Bari Baki, Chopol, Masud, Helal, Firoz, Razzak and Mona.
“The 11 accused were politically harassed. The home ministry's recommendation letter for not running prosecution against them was sent to the court earlier. After hearing the court accepted the recommendations,” said advocate Belayet Ali Billu, public prosecutor of Pabna District and Sessions Judge's Court.
The name of former home minister Mohammad Nasim was also dropped from the case a few months ago.
Pabna municipality chairman Sheikh Shahidulla Bachhu, also a prominent leader of local Awami League (AL), was shot dead inside his car at an agricultural farm in Tebunia area on April 4, 1997. A case was filed with Pabna Sadar police station the next day accusing unidentified criminals.
On November 22 in 2005, the Criminal Investigation Department submitted a charge sheet against several people including a few leaders of AL and BNP.
As a few of the accused were relieved from the charge in different periods, the case was running with 14 accused.
After dropping of the names of the 11 people, the case now includes the names of three accused -- incumbent Mayor of Pabna municipality Md Kamrul Hassan Mintu, municipality councillor Faridul Islam Dalu and Md Abdul Mannan.