Trial sees slow progress

Three years into the brutal attack on the Hindu community people at Bonogram of Santhia upazila under the district, slow progress in the cases filed in connection with the incident worries the victims.

Several groups attacked on the houses, shops and temples of Hindus in three villages of Bonogram on November 2 in 2013, alleging that a Facebook page of local Hindu youth Rajib Saha, son of Babul Saha, maligned Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).

The attackers totally damaged 33 houses, 10 shops and seven temples while 20 policemen were injured as the attackers did not even spare the law enforcers who went to the area to prevent the attackers.

Three cases were filed in connection with the incidents, one by Rajib's father Babul Saha against 20 named accused and many unidentified ones for attacking and looting his house while police filed two cases -- one for attacking cops and the other for maligning prophet in Facebook.

After investigation, Detective Branch of police submitted two charge sheets, accusing 10 people for plotting the maligning of prophet through a fake Facebook page while Ataikula police submitted another charge sheet accusing 74 people for attack on cops and preventing their work, on November 21 in 2014. 

"All the charge-sheeted accused could not be arrested. Besides, the trial of the cases is being delayed due to the filing of petition for revision by the accused against the charge sheets. Court issued warrant and property attachment order against the absconding accused," Anwara Khatun, court sub inspector, told this correspondent.

Criminal Investigation Department is investigating the case filed by Babul Saha and they will take decision about the charge sheet, said Md Abdur Razzak, officer in charge of Ataikula Police Station.