4 more accused appeal for discharge

Four more accused, including Islamic Democratic Party Ameer Maulana Sheikh Abdus Salam, on the fifth day of charge framing hearing yesterday, appealed to a Dhaka court to be discharged of the August 21 grenade attack cases.
The three other accused are: Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) leaders Mufti Mohibur Rahman alias Muhibullah, brother of Huji Chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, Abdul Hannan Sabbir and Maulana Yahiya.
Salam, Muhibullah, Sabbir and Yahiya's counsels submitted the discharge petitions in the morning as Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 resumed the charge framing hearing against BNP Senior Vice-President Tarique Rahman and 51 other accused in the cases.
During the hearing, counsels for the accused said their clients were implicated in the cases as part of a conspiracy against them.
The lawyers said the names of their clients were not included in the first information report of the cases. So, the four accused should be discharged from the allegations, they added.
Avocate Syed Rezaur Rahman, chief prosecutor, opposed the defence pleas saying their names were included in charge sheets based on the confessional statements given by Huji chief Mufti Abdul Hannan on April 7. So, charges should be framed against them.
Judge Shahed Nuruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 fixed November 1 for the next hearing at the special courtroom adjacent to Dhaka Central Jail.
On October 13, 17 and 23, counsels of former inspector general of police (IGP) Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, Lt Commander (Retd) Saiful Islam Duke, nephew of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, and Huji leader Maulana Abu Taher appealed to discharge them.