Moudud, Abbas among 41 indicted

A Dhaka court on Tuesday indicted BNP standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, the party's city unit leader Mirza Abbas and 39 others in a vandalism case filed under the Speedy Trial Act last year. Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Tareq Mainul Bhuiyan gave the order against the 41 BNP leaders and activists, rejecting their petition to exempt them from the case. The magistrate scheduled recording of testimonies on October 12. The accused leaders including Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Amanullah Aman, Goyeshwar Roy, Barkatullah Bulu, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, were present in the court. They all pleaded not guilty. Court sources said, 12 among the 41 accused were not present today. Among those present in the court today, Moudud Ahmed and Amanullah Aman pleaded for exemption but their appeal was rejected by the magistrate. Paltan Police filed the case accusing 44 people for torching vehicles and obstruction government duties in front of the BNP head office in the city's Nayapaltan on March 6 last year. Sub Inspector Moshiur Rahman filed the charge-sheet against 41 out of 44 accused on March 19, according to private TV channels.