Assault on cops: Court frames charges against 51 BNP men

A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against 51 BNP leaders and activists in a case filed over vandalising vehicles and assaulting policemen during a protest procession in the capital in October 2017.

Amanullah Aman, an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and joint secretary generals of the party Khairul Kabir Khokon and Habib-Un-Nabi Khan Sohel are among them.

Aman, Sohel, Khokon and 48 others, now on bail, pleaded not guilty after Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain read out the charges.

Earlier in the day, the court dismissed petitions seeking their acquittal from the charges and fixed February 1, 2023, for the trial to begin.

According to the case statement, it was alleged that around 9:05am on October 10, 2017, a group of BNP leaders and activists, led by Aman, brought out a procession, protesting the issuance of an arrest warrant against Khaleda near Dainik Bangla intersection. They vandalised vehicles, assaulted policemen and prevented them from discharging their duties, the statement added.

Following the incident, Sub-Inspector Shahidul Islam of Motijheel Police Station lodged the case against Aman, Khokon, Sohel and 10 others.

SI Shafiqul Islam Akond of the same police station and also the investigation officer of the case pressed charges against the 51, including the 13 accused in the FIR.