All the 13 accused in another case in connection with August 17 serial bomb blasts were acquitted by Barisal Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal (STT) yesterday.
In Chittagong, the Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced two members of Jamaatul Mujahiden, Bangladesh to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment in a case for serial blasts in the port city on the same day in 2005.
Our Barisal Correspondent reports: In the verdict, STT judge Rabiul Hassan ordered release of the arrested nine out of 13 accused in case no. 11, if they are not accused in any other cases. Twelve cases were filed in connection with the blasts in Barisal city.
Those acquitted yesterday are Golam Morshed Chowdhury Reza, Jalal Arefin, Hafez Saiful Islam, Abu Yusuf Majumdar, Abu Solaiman Sujan, Md Maruf, Jasimuddin, Abdus Sobahan, Giasuddin, Sarwar, Abdur Rahim, Zahid Babu, and Ziaur Rahman Zia.
Four of the accused were tried in absentia. They are Sarwar, Abdur Rahim, Zahid Babu, and Ziaur Rahman Zia.
Special Public Prosecutor Kazi Munir Hussein told The Daily Star that all the 13 were acquitted as charges against them could not be proved due to faults in the case and weak investigation.
The case (no. 11) was lodged in connection with blasts in front of Barisal General Post Office.
Sub-inspector Mosharraf Hossain of Barisal Kotwali police filed the case as complainant while sub-inspector Borhan Reza submitted charge sheet against the 13 on December 24, 2005.
With this, trial of six out of the 12 cases have been completed. Only in one case, seven people including four absconders were sentenced to life term by the same court on July 30 this year.
Our Staff Correspondent in Chittagong adds:
The Chittagong Divisional Speedy Tribunal (STT) yesterday sentenced two members of Jamia'tul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in the sensational case for serial bomb blasta on August 17, 2005.
They were also filed Tk 5,000 each, in default to suffer imprisonment for one year more.
This was the first verdict in Chittagong in connection with the August 17 blasts in the port city.
The convicts are JMB 'Chittagong region commander' Javed Iqbal alias Mohammad and Julfikar Ali. The court acquitted Arshedul Alam alias T Alam. STT Judge Mohammad Shafiqul karim pronounced the verdict.
Sources however said that Julfikar Ali, who is now in police custody, and the one with the same name who was actually involved in the bomb blasts were different persons, but Julfikar was punished because of a mistake of the concerned lawyer.
When the judge drew attention to this alleged mistake, the lawyer --Nikhil Kanti Chowdhury--admitted his fault and apologised for that. He told the court that he did not quiz the witnesses about Julfikar.
The case was filed blasts in the city's Halishahar area on August 17, 2005.
The investigation officer submitted charge sheet on January 14, 2007 accusing six persons.
Of the accused, the names of JMB top leaders Shayak Abdur Rahman, Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai and Ataur Rahman Sunny were dropped as they were executed earlier. Charges were framed on August 6 last year.
In the case, JMB 'commander' in his confessional statement under Section 164 had told that their Ehsar member Julfikar was the mastermind behind the bomb blast near Hakkani Refuelling Station in Halishahar on August 17, 2005. But Julfiar, who is in jail now, was actually the elder brother of Abu Jar, an activist of JMB, Sitakakunda branch in Chittagong. This Julfikar was arrested while supplying food to his younger brother Abu Jar in the court area. During trial of the case, Javed disclosed before the court that the two Julfikars were different persons.
Sources said Julfikar might get release only after submitting appeal in this regard to High Court.