Desk Report,
On the day of the announcement of the verdict in the case of the petrol bomb attack in Magura that killed five people, the accused have applied to withdraw their confessional statements. The verdict in the case was not announced today, Tuesday.
Taking note of the application, Magura Additional District and Sessions Judge (First) Judge Nasir Uddin has fixed the hearing date for August 24.
The verdict in the case was supposed to be announced today. In the morning, the defense lawyers applied to withdraw the statements of the three accused who gave confessional statements under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Defense lawyer Kumud Ranjan Biswas told Prothom Alo that those who gave confessional statements in this case want to withdraw their statements. Because, their confessions were extracted by force during the previous government. The incident was done to politically destroy BNP and Jamaat.
State lawyer Abul Kalam Azad told reporters that the learned judge has fixed the hearing of the case for August 24 in view of the application of the lawyers for the accused.
On March 21, 2015, at around 7:30 pm, a petrol bomb attack took place on a truck in the Moghir Dhal area of the Magura-Jashore highway during the ongoing blockade program of the BNP-led 20-party alliance. In this, 9 people, including the truck driver and a worker, were burnt. Five of them later died while undergoing treatment.
The next day, on March 22, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Magura Sadar Police Station Abdus Salam filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The case named 26 leaders and activists of BNP and Jamaat and charged them with arson, murder and creating terror by throwing petrol bombs. The case statement said that on the day of the incident, the truck was returning towards Magura town after unloading sand in Bhatokhali village of Shalikha upazila. When it reached the Moghir Dhal area, a petrol bomb was thrown at the truck. Nine passengers in the truck were burnt. Five died while undergoing treatment. They were truck driver Imran Molla, Matin Biswas, Shakil, Yadul and Rawshan Ali. Although burnt, Faruk, Arab Ali, Nazmul Hossain and Ilias Biswas survived. After the investigation, in August of that year, the investigation officer of the case, Police Inspector Md. Imaul Haque, filed a charge sheet against 23 people.
Notable accused in the case include Magura District BNP convener Ali Ahmed, member secretary Monowar Hossain Khan, central general secretary of the Volunteer Party Rajib Ahsan, then general secretary of Chhatra Dal Akramul Hasan, general secretary of the District Volunteer Party Abdur Rahim, member secretary of Jubo Dal Dhaka Metropolitan South Rabiul Islam, former general secretary of District Chhatra Dal SM Abu Taher, general secretary of District Jubo Dal Firoz Ahmed, district BNP member Masud Hasan Khan, former district Jamaat Amir Alamgir Hossain, current Amir MB Baker, former vice chairman of Sadar Upazila Parishad and Jamaat leader Amir Faruk Hossain, and district BNP member and lawyer Mizanur Rahman.
According to court sources, charges were framed in the case on July 31, 2017. During the trial, the court recorded the testimony of 62 people. In addition, three accused gave confessional statements under Section 164. However, they denied the allegations of involvement in the incident.
