Court Correspondent :
A Dhaka court on Thursday fixed May 18 for arguments afresh
in the Ramna Batamul blast case.
Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka Ruhul Amin set the date, after completion of arguments on behalf of 13 accused in the case. The court fixed the new date as argument on behalf of an accused was not ended Thursday.
On Thursday with permission from the court, accused Moulana Sabbir alias Abdul Hannan Sabbir came to the dais of the lawyers and taking oath with the holy Quran, told the court, “We want justice. If I have any involvement I should be punished. We are
denying the charges, while the prosecution has mentioned that we have committed offence.”
Later, he recited verse 60 of Sura Al-Imran of the holy Quran and translated it in Bangla. He claimed to follow the direction of the verse. He also told the court that after he was nabbed his trace was not available for two months. Had he been involved with the incident he would made confessional statement admitting his involvement.
Later, the Judge told him, ‘as the trial is not being held under the Quranic law so you have no opportunity to show the holy Quran.’
On May 5, the court completed recording the deposition of CID Inspector Abu Hena Md Yusuf. He is also the latest Investigation Officer (IO) of the case.
During the deposition, the eighth IO, Abu Hena submitted a sketch map over the plan of the blast operation that took place during the Pahela Boishakh celebrations of Chhayanaut on April 14 in 2001, leaving 10 people dead and injuring scores of others.
Over seven and half years after the Ramna bloodbath, the CID on November 30, 2008 pressed charges against 14 operatives of banned Islamist outfit Harkatul Jihad Al Islami (Huji) in two cases filed in connection with the carnage.
After the incident, Babupura Police outpost sergeant Amal Kumar Chanda filed two cases with the Ramna Police Station.
So far, sixty-one prosecution witnesses testified in the case.
