Verdict now June 23

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 court in Dhaka has rescheduled Ramna Batamul carnage verdict for June 23 as it fails to complete writing the judgement today.

“I could not complete writing the judgement of the case. So, I shifted the date,” said Judge Ruhul Amin of the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, who was scheduled to pronounce the verdict today. 

On completion of arguments from the prosecution and the defence on May 28, the judge fixed today for delivery of the judgment.

During the traditional celebrations of the Bangla New Year, 1408 (April 14, 2001) at the Ramna Batamul, several blasts killed 10 people and injured around 50 others. Leading cultural platform Chhayanaut organises the event every year.

The Criminal Investigation Department on December 30, 2008 pressed charges against the 14 leaders and activists of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (Huji) including its chief Mufti Abdul Hannan in the case.

Earlier around 9:00am today, Hannan and eight other accused, now in police custody, were taken to the court for the verdict.

After the judge deferred the date for the judgement, they were sent back to jail by a prison van around noon.

The photo taken on April 14, 2001 shows panic-stricken men, women and children running for cover after the huge explosion at the Ramna Batamul during Bangla New Year celebrations that left nine killed and at least 50 others injured.

Five other accused in the case including Moulana Tajuddin, brother of BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu, are on the run.

Security was beefed up on the court premises ahead of the verdict today.

Earlier, the court recorded statements of 61 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant of the case. 

Two cases -- one for the killing and the other under the explosive substances act -- were filed with Ramna Police Station in connection with the incident. It took the investigators over seven years to trace Huji links with the attack.

The case filed under the explosive substances act is stuck now. In 2009, the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka sought the Supreme Court registrar's opinion on whether both the cases could be tried together. The registrar is yet to respond to the tribunal.