25 BNP men jailed for three years for vandalism

A Dhaka court has sentenced 25 activists of the BNP and its affiliate organisations to three years in jail each for vandalism, reports bdnews24.com.

Among the convicts are Md Taijuddin aka 'Lomba' Taiju, the president of the ward No. 68 BNP faction, and Razia Alam aka Razia Sultana, president of the Dhaka South Mohila Dal.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Sheikh Sadir delivered the verdicts in the absence of the defendants, said Neehar Hossain, a member of their defence team.

Before the verdict, the magistrate scrapped their bail and declared them fugitives. The chief of Bangshal thana was tasked with apprehending them after warrants for their arrest were issued.

The sentences will take effect from the day of their surrender or capture, the magistrate said.

The court heard the arguments for the prosecution and defence and recorded the statements of three witnesses for the prosecution.

A case was filed against 25 suspects at Bangshal Police Station over the incident.

On Jun 30, 2019, police filed a chargesheet against the suspects. They were indicted on Feb 27, 2022.