Patuakhali's former BNP MP gets 10 yrs in arms case

A Patuakhali court yesterday handed down 10 years rigorous imprisonment to Shahidul Alam Talukder, a former BNP lawmaker and secretary of the party's Baufal upazila unit, in an arms case.
ABM Sajedur Rahman of Additional District and Sessions Judge's Court delivered the verdict.
According to prosecution, joint forces on February 16 this year recovered two magazines of pistol from Shahidul's house in Baufal upazila town. A case was filed the next day under arms act with Baufal Police Station by Mizanur Rahman, officer in charge of the police station.
Investigation Officer of the case, Sub Inspector Rafiqul Islam, submitted charge sheet to the court on April 17. Trial began on June 17 in absence of Shahidul as he went into hiding since January 11 after state of emergency was imposed in the country.
The court recorded statements from 14 prosecution witnesses out of 24.
On July 29, Shahidul surrendered to the court and submitted a bail petition along with a plea to recall all witnesses.
The court sent Shahidul to jail custody after rejecting his bail petition and plea to recall the witnesses.