Ramna blast verdict awaited even after 13 years

FE Team | Published: April 13, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Five years have elapsed since the trial of the murder case in connection with the Ramna blast of 2001 began, but deposition of investigators is yet to be completed while the prosecution expects its verdict in two months, reports BSS.
Ten people were killed and many others injured in an explosion at the Ramna Batamul on April 14, 2001 during the celebration of Pahela Boishakh, the first day of the Bangla New Year.
"The trial being held on murder charges, component of the case, in the metropolitan sessions judge's court is expected to be completed in two months while the court awaited a Supreme Court (SC) directive to start trying the suspects under the Explosives Act, the other component of the case," Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Mohammad Abdullah Abu told the news agency Saturday.
Arguments in the murder case will start immediately after completion of the deposition by the investigation officer and CID Inspector Abu Hena Yusuf, Abu said.
Defence lawyers however said it would not be possible to complete the trial in next one month as argument has not yet been started.
A Dhaka court Thursday fixed April 22 for submission of the High Court (HC) order on a writ petition filed by the defence Wednesday challenging the lower court order to summon the investigation officer for the second time.
"Eighty-four people including investigation officers were made witnesses in both the cases and the court has so far recorded depositions of 67 witnesses since the trial began in 2009. We will not record depositions of the remaining witnesses, as key witnesses have already given their depositions, in a bid to complete the trial as soon as possible," Abu said.
The defence is planning to take an initiative to delay the trial process after filing a writ petition with the HC challenging a lower court order that did not allow the defence to re-cross-examine four prosecution witnesses. Despite their attempt, the trial of murder case will be completed in the next two months, Abu said.
Earlier, after a delayed investigation process the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police on December 30, 2008 submitted charge sheet against 14 people of banned Islamist outfit Harkatul Jihad.
"Five of the accused are on the run and one is on bail while the remaining ones are in jail to face the trial," the public prosecutor said.
The other operatives of the outfit named in the chargesheet were mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Moulana Yahiya, Mufti Abdul Hye, Moulana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid, Moulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Hawlader, Moulana Mohammad Tajuddin, Moulana Abdul Hannan Sabbir, Arif Hasan Suman, Moulana Akbar Hossain alias Helaluddin, Moulana Abu Taher, Moulana Abdur Rouf, Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar and Shahadat Ullah alias Jewel.
Since the chargesheet was submitted, the Second Metropolitan and Sessions Judge's Court in Dhaka has been recording testimonies of the witnesses in the murder case.
The second case filed under the Explosives Act is now pending for approval of the Supreme Court to be continued.
Masdar Hossain, the then judge of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 dealing with the case, sought opinion of the Supreme Court on September 29, 2009, if the trial of the case could be held at the same court while the apex court is yet to give its opinion.