Hannan, 13 others indicted for bomb attack on CPB rally

A Dhaka court on Thursday framed charges against 13 operatives of the banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji), including its chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, for bomb attack on a CPB rally in the city on January 20, 2001, that killed eight people. Dhaka 3rd Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Imrul Kayes framed the charges in presence of the accused, fixing September 14 for starting the trial. Additional Public Prosecutor Asaduzzaman Khan said the accused pleaded not guilty and demanded justice. On November 27, 2013, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) pressed charges against them in two cases -- one filed for killing and another under the Explosive Substances Act. The other charge-sheeted accused are Mainuddin Sheikh alias Abu Zandal, Arif Hasan Sumon, Maulana Sabbir Hossain, Shawkat Osman, Moshiur Rahman, Maulana Abdul Hye, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Jahangir Alam Badar, Nurul Islam, Mohibul Muktakim, Anisul Mursalin and Rafiqul Alam Miraj, according to a news agency.