Fresh arrest warrant as Munshi Atiq skips court

A Gopalganj court yesterday issued fresh arrest warrant against retired senior assistant police superintendent of CID (Criminal Investigation Department) Munshi Atiqur Rahman.
District and Sessions Judge's Court gave the order as Atiq did not appear in the court to give his deposition in the sedition case in connection with the attempt to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2000.
Six of the 15 accused were produced in the court. They are Harkat-ul-Jihad (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and activists Mahibullah, Mehedi Hasan, Wasim, Mahmud Azhar and Rashed.
Court sources said as the plaintiff of the case skipped the court for the second time, fresh arrest warrant was issued against him. The court has so far recorded statement of only one police officer out of the 15 prosecution witnesses, sources added.
The court yesterday fixed February 28 as the next date of hearing of the case. An arrest warrant against Munshi Atiq was issued on January 4 as he did not appear in the court to give his deposition in the case.
Law enforcers recovered two powerful bombs from Kotalipara Sheikh Lutfor Rahman Degree College ground on July 21, 2000, a day ahead of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's public rally at the venue.
Operatives of banned Islamist outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad planted the bombs at the meeting venue to kill the prime minister. Later, a sedition case was filed, accusing 15 Huji men, including its chief Mufti Abdul Hannan.