Hearing against 120 Jamaat-Shibir men Nov 14

A Dhaka court yesterday fixed November 14 for the hearing on charge framing against 120 leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir in connection with a case filed with Ramna police over the recent violence in the city's Kakrail area.
Of the accused, Jamaat acting secretary general ATM Azharul Islam and 108 other Jamaat and Shibir men are in custody while acting ameer Maqbul Ahmad and 10 others have been absconding.
Metropolitan Magistrate Erfan Ullah of the Speedy Trial Court-7 yesterday set the hearing date directing jail authorities to produce the detained, including Azharul before it on the scheduled date.
Police submitted to the court a copy of the advertisement published in two Bangla national dailies recently ordering the fugitives to appear before it by yesterday. But, since they failed to comply with the court order, the trial against them would be held in absentia.
Another court on Sunday fixed November 15 for hearing on charge framing against Maqbul, Azharul and 159 others in a case filed with Paltan police over the violence in the city's Bijoynagar and Shantinagar areas.
On September 19, several hundred Jamaat activists clashed with police in Kakrail, Bijoynagar and Shantinagar areas, leaving at least 100 people injured, setting fire to at least 28 vehicles and smashing over 200 others. They also vandalised dozens of roadside shops and halted traffic for hours.
The case with Paltan police accuses 161 Jamaat-Shibir men, of whom 80 are also charged in the case with Ramna police.