Court re-fixes date for order

The judge could not pass any order on the issue, as two accused--Tipu Sultan and Abu Bakar alias Babul--were absent from the court yesterday.

Judge Mohammad Aman Ullhah of the Fifth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, fixed September 25 for order on the issue filed by the government on July 17.

Five other accused are Khokon's cousin Yusuf Bin Kalu, Abdul Khaleq, Abu Syed Khan Khokon, Tipu Sulatan and Abu Bakar alias Babul. Of them, Tipu and Babul are absconding.

The Judge in its order mentioned that Goyeshwar and four others were absent from the court yesterday without taking any steps. The prosecution did not take any steps and two more accused have been absconding for long time after getting bails from the court. So, the order on the issue will be passed on the next fixed date in presence of the two accused, the judge added.

Earlier on July 25, the same court had heard the government petition for withdrawal of the bomb blast case and fixed yesterday for order on the issue.

According to the prosecution, a group of BNP and Jubo Dal leaders led by Goyeshwar and Mirza Khokon hurled indiscriminate bombs on the on- duty policemen at the BNP's central office at Nayapaltan about 5:30pm on December 24, 1996 when the policemen tried to rescue a man from their custody.

Later, a case was filed against Goyeshwar, Mirza Khokon and 11 others under the Explosive Substances Act. The investigation officer pressed charges against them on December 30, 1999.

The home ministry in a letter on June 19 this year informed the district magistrate of Dhaka that it had decided to withdraw charges against Goyeshwar and six others as the charges were "politically motivated".

The ministry asked the district magistrate to hand over the matter to the metropolitan public prosecutor (PP), who will arrange withdrawal of the case with the permission from an appropriate court.

Following order, the PP Abdullah Mahmud Hassan submitted the petition for withdrawal of the case on July 17.