A court in Satkhira today (Thursday) sentenced former BNP lawmaker Habibul Islam Habib and two others to 10 years imprisonment in a case lodged over the 2002 attack on the motorcade of the then opposition leader and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the district. The court, also, sentenced three others, including Juba Dal leader Abdul Quader Bachchu, to nine years in imprisonment and 44 others to different jail terms with a minimum of four years in the case. Satkhira Chief Judicial Magistrate Humayun Kabir delivered the verdict around 11am while 34 accused, out of 50, were present in the dock. The remaining 16 accused in the case are absconding. Additional Attorney General SM Munir, Deputy Attorney General Sujeet Chatterjee, Deputy Attorney General Shaheen Mridha, PP Advocate Abdul Latif and others represented the state. Advocates Shahanara Akhter Bakul, Abdul Majid, Mizanur Rahman Pintu and Tozammel Hossain took part in the hearing in different dates for the state. The accused in the jail- are former MP Habibul Islam Habib, Ashraf Hossain, former municipality mayor Akhtarul Islam, Nazrul Islam, Abdur Razzak, Sheikh Tamim Azad Merin, Abdur Rakib Mollah, Abdul Majid, Hasan Ali, Moyna, Abdus Sattar, Tofazzal Hossain Sentu, Zahurul Islam, Golam Rasul, Advocate Abdus Sattar, Abdus Samad, Altaf Hossain, Shahabuddin, Saheb Ali, Sirajul Islam, Rakib, Trolley Shahidul, Monirul Islam, Sheikh Kamrul Islam, Yasin Ali, Shelley, Shahinur Rahman, Didar Moral, Sohag Hossain, Mahafuzur Molla, Abdul Gaffar Gazi, Rinku, Advocate Abdus Samad and Tiger Khokon. Former Juba Dal leaders Abdul Quader Bachchu, Mofizul Islam, Alauddin, Khaled Manzur Rommel, Arifur Rahman, Ripon, Yasin Ali, Rabiul Islam, Mazaharul Islam, Abdul Khaleq, Abdur Rob, Sanju, Nazmul Hossain, Jabid Raihan Lucky, Kanak, Mahafuzur Rahman are absconding. The miscreants hurled bombs on the convoy of the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina and even shot at her, as her motorcade reached in front of Kolaroa upazila BNP office in Satkhira on August 30, 2002. They vandalized a couple of vehicles of the convoy too. Police in 2015 filed charge sheet in the case. Of the accused, Rakib alias Rakibur Rahman who was included in the charge-sheet, had filed a plea with the High Court to quash the case, saying he was only 10-year old during the incident. The High Court had filed a rule to scrap the proceedings of the trial. On October 6, hearing was held on the rule and the court on October 8 discharged it. The defence later filed a plea to stay that High Court order, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Nov 24, 2020. Source: BSS AH

Awami League nominated candidate for Noakhali-2 constituency Morshed Alam said, the incident of attack and vandalism took place on BNP nominated candidate Joynal Abdin Faruk’s motorcade at Senbag due to internal feud of BNP. He said these at a press conference at his main election office on Sunday. Earlier Morshed Alam was blamed for the attack and vandalism on the motorcade of Faruk that took place in the morning. To protest that Morshed Alam, the candidate of symbol boat organized the press conference. In the press conference Morshed Alam said, Awami League or our leaders-activists did not carry out the attack on BNP candidate. They within themselves conducted the incident and blamed Awami League. He also alleged saying, leaders and activists of BNP vandalized our election campaign vehicles and mike yesterday. After being worried over their defeat BNP is trying to create unstable situation in the area. AH    

The motorcade of Jatiya Oikyafront leader and also Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain was allegedly attacked at the Martyred Intellectuals Mausoleum in Mirpur area of Dhaka on Friday morning. The motorcade came under the attack when Dr Kamal Hossain was coming out of the Mausoleum after paying tributes to the martyred intellectuals, said Latiful Bari Hamim, an official of the Oikyafront’s media wing. During the incident, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rob, Gonoshasthaya Kendra trusty Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, BNP leader Abdus Salam, Reza Kibria, son of slain former Awami League Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria accompanied Dr Kamal. They went to the Martyred Intellectuals Mausoleum on the occasion of the Martyred Intellectuals Day on Friday. The BNP-led opposition alliance was formed comprising Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, ASM Abdur Rab's Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Mahmudur Rahman Manna's Nagorik Oikya. Meanwhile, after paying tribute to the intellectuals at the memorial, Dr Kamal told journalists that they must free the country from those who are looting the people’s property. He said, “We are working for building a exploitation-free society. We'll be united to materialize our dream dreamt by the martyred Intellectuals.” Meanwhile, the alliance has announced a three-day programme to be observed from Martyred Intellectuals Day to Victory Day. MHK

A group of unidentified miscreants made attacked on the motorcade of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at Danarhat in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila on Tuesday noon, claimed BNP leaders. The incident took place when Fakhrul was running polls campaign in the area at 12 noon. Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mostafizur Rahman said they have heard that two or three cars were vandalized in Danarhat area of Begunbari union by some unruly people. “We are investigating the vandalism incident seriously,” he added. Contacted, district BNP president Taimur Rahman complained that the attack was carried out at his car when Fakhrul was conducting polls campaign in the area. “Fakhrul was conducting election road shows in the area. At that time, a group of people made attack on the motorcade and broke glasses of two or three cars,” he said. Taimur, however, could not name the attackers. Mirza Fakhrul is contesting the eleventh general polls slated for December 30 from Thakurgaon-1 and Bogura-6 constituencies. MHK