Court expresses resentment over appointment of lawyers

A Dhaka court yesterday expressed its resentment over appointment of 10 state defence lawyers to represent eight absconding accused by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) without proper rules in connection with the Ramna Batamul blast cases.
Meantime, another Dhaka court recorded statements of two more prosecution witnesses in connection with the August 21, 2004 attack cases.
Judge ANM Bashir Ullah of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka said it after getting a list of 10 lawyers sent by the ADM to represent the absconders.
The judge said he earlier ordered ADM to appoint state defence lawyers on behalf of eight absconding accused including Pintu's younger brother Maulana Tajuddin. Following the order, the ADM sent a list of ten lawyers, but he did not mention who would stand for whom. So, the ADM did not act properly and it was insincere and discourtesy, the magistrate added.
The judge adjourned the hearing on charge framing against 14 accused, including Hannan, until March 4 and ordered the ADM to appoint state defence lawyers on behalf of eight absconding accused and sent the list of them on the scheduled date.
The court also directed the authorities concerned to publish advertisements in two national Bangla dailies asking eight absconding accused, including Pintu's brother Tajuddin to appear before it by March 4.
After receipt of reports on arrest warrants issued against them earlier, the court passed the order.
The carnage at Ramna Batamul took place during Pahela Baishakh celebrations on April 14, 2001 that left 10 people dead and scores injured.
AUGUST 21 GRENADE ATTACK CASES
Meanwhile, Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 Judge Mohammad Masdar Hossain yesterday recorded statements of Mohammad Solaiman and Mohammad Akkas in August 21 grenade attack cases.
Later, they were cross-examined by defence lawyers on different points.
The court then fixed February 23 for next hearing of the cases and summoned several witnesses to appear before it on the scheduled date.
In the statement, Solaiman told the court that on August 22, 2004 he learned that his cousin Hanif died in the grenade attacks on an Awami League (AL) rally on Bangabandhu Avenue. On hearing the news, he went to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where Sharif Faruque Ahmed prepared an inquest report on eight victims including his cousin.
Another witness Akkas told the court that he went to DMCH after getting news of his uncle Rafiqul Islam's death on August 22.
They put signatures on the eight-page inquest reports that were prepared by police in their presence.
Earlier on January 27 and February 12, the court completed recording statements of two witnesses, including the complainant SI Sharif Faruque Ahmed.
Twenty-two people accused of launching the grenade attacks on the rally include detained former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu, Harkatul Jihad (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, Huji members Abu Sayeed, Shahdatullah Jewel, Rafiqul Islam alias Rafiq, Abu Taher and Maulana Tajuddin.
Fourteen of the accused, including Pintu and Hannan, now in jail, were produced before the court during yesterday's hearing.
Eight others, including Pintu's younger brother Maulana Tajuddin, have been absconding since the cases were filed.