Ramna blast: Fresh charges framed against Hannan, 13 Huji men

This Prothom Alo photo taken on April 14, 2001 shows the horrific aftermath of an explosion killing ten people and injuring many others at the Ramna Batamul in Dhaka during the celebration of Bangla new year Pahela Boishakh.

A Dhaka court today framed fresh charges against top Huji leader Mufti Abdul Hannan and 13 others in a case filed for blasting bombs during Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Batamul in 2001 that killed 10 people and injured many.

Judge Shaheb Nur Uddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 reframed the charges in response to a petition filed by Prosecutor Abu Abdullah saying that earlier the 14 Huji men were charged in the case under a wrong section of law.

He appealed to the court to frame fresh charges under the proper section.

After framing the fresh charges, the court fixed September 21 to start trial of the case.

On April 16 in 2009, Metropolitan Sessions Judge ANM Bashir Ullah framed the charges against all the 14 members of the banned Islamist outfit in the case filed under the explosive substances act.

Among the accused, nine including Hannan remain in jail while the rest are absconding.

Ten people were killed and scores injured in the blast at Ramna Batamul during Pahela Baishakh celebrations on the first day of Bangla year (April 14) in 2001.

In this April 16, 2009 Star file photo, Harkatul Jihad leaders Maulana Abu Taher and Mufti Hannan being taken to a Dhaka court under heavy security for charge-framing in the Ramna Batamul case.

Two cases -- one for murder and the other for possession and use of explosive substances -- were filed with the Ramna Police Station following the blasts.

In the killing case, a Dhaka court on June 23 handed down death penalty to eight Huji members, including Hannan, and sentenced six others to life term imprisonment.