(From 2007 Probe News Magazine: The IGP Nur Mohammed has ordered that investigations into the case be revived. Police say that the arrested persons are all out on bail. Of them, Enayet, Awal and Habibur Rahman submitted false papers in court to get their bail. They submitted papers saying that the persons who died in the incident had gunshots in their body. Their lawyer was former Law Minister Top BNP leader Moudud Ahmed.)
Ramna Batamul blast: Fake accused galore
Mamunur Rashid
Though only 14 persons were believed to have been involved in the bomb attack at the Pahela Baishakh function at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka city some eight years ago, at least 1,000 people were interrogated and harassed in connection with the case.
The bomb blast at Ramna Batamul in April, 2001 cost the lives of ten people.
In the name of fair investigation the investigation officers and others associated with the investigation were stated to have pocketed nearly Tk 25 crore unfairly from the suspects, real or imaginary, in the bomb attack in course of the last eight years.
All the governments, which were at the helm of the administration tried to turn the course of the investigation as it suited them.
The investigation officer, Abu Hena Mohammad Yousuf of the Criminal Investigation Department of police submitted the final charge sheet on November 19, 2008.
At least 14 people were accused in this case. Of them, Police arrested six persons including Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami leaders Mufti Hannan, Maulana Tahir, Jewel, Arif Hossan Suman.
One Akbar, earlier detained in connection with the case, was later enlarged on bail.
All of them were veterans of the Afghan war and members of the now-banned Islamist organisation, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh, police sources said.
During the interrogation by the CID Mufti Hannan reportedly mentioned the names of Hasan and Omar Faruk for their alleged involvement in the bomb attack at Ramna Batamul.
Interestingly, the CID people summoned 152 people bearing the name of Hasan and 148 people having the name of Omar Faruk.
The CID people called these hasans and Faruks one by one during the long eight years in the name of investigation and allegedly realised Tk two to three lakh from each in bribe for dropping their names from the case. In this way a section of CID people collected Tk 25 crore in bribe.
Many of the Hasans and Faruks accused the CID of torturing them inhumanly to get confessional statement. But they were freed only when they paid lakhs of taka in bribe for dropping their names from the case.
Rajia, mother of detained Arif Hossan Suman, told the New Nation that her son is totally innocent. Failing to get bribe money the police have continued to keep her son in jail only to create another " Jodge Mia" of August 21 tragedy in 2004, Rajia maintained.
Some police officials were also equally harassed for not investigating the Ramna bomb blast case as per the directive of the BNP led four-party alliance government.
One of the victimized officers was Akhtaruzzamn, who held the rank of assistant superintendent of police. He was given the charge of investigation into the Ramna Batamul bomb blast case. He lost his job as he failed to submit charge sheet to the liking of the then government.
Mizan, a student of Dhaka University, suffered doubly in connection with the bomb blast. He went to Ramna on the fateful day to enjoy the celebration of the Pahela Baishak .But he sustained severe injuries in the bomb blast. Police also picked Mizan for his alleged involvement in the blast. However, his name was finally dropped from the list of attackers.
At later stage Mizan joined the police service. But he was sacked from the police service during the last BNP led government for his suspected involvement in the bomb blast.
Though only 14 persons were believed to have been involved in the bomb attack at the Pahela Baishakh function at Ramna Batamul in Dhaka city some eight years ago, at least 1,000 people were interrogated and harassed in connection with the case.
The bomb blast at Ramna Batamul in April, 2001 cost the lives of ten people.
In the name of fair investigation the investigation officers and others associated with the investigation were stated to have pocketed nearly Tk 25 crore unfairly from the suspects, real or imaginary, in the bomb attack in course of the last eight years.
All the governments, which were at the helm of the administration tried to turn the course of the investigation as it suited them.
The investigation officer, Abu Hena Mohammad Yousuf of the Criminal Investigation Department of police submitted the final charge sheet on November 19, 2008.
At least 14 people were accused in this case. Of them, Police arrested six persons including Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami leaders Mufti Hannan, Maulana Tahir, Jewel, Arif Hossan Suman.
One Akbar, earlier detained in connection with the case, was later enlarged on bail.
All of them were veterans of the Afghan war and members of the now-banned Islamist organisation, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh, police sources said.
During the interrogation by the CID Mufti Hannan reportedly mentioned the names of Hasan and Omar Faruk for their alleged involvement in the bomb attack at Ramna Batamul.
Interestingly, the CID people summoned 152 people bearing the name of Hasan and 148 people having the name of Omar Faruk.
The CID people called these hasans and Faruks one by one during the long eight years in the name of investigation and allegedly realised Tk two to three lakh from each in bribe for dropping their names from the case. In this way a section of CID people collected Tk 25 crore in bribe.
Many of the Hasans and Faruks accused the CID of torturing them inhumanly to get confessional statement. But they were freed only when they paid lakhs of taka in bribe for dropping their names from the case.
Rajia, mother of detained Arif Hossan Suman, told the New Nation that her son is totally innocent. Failing to get bribe money the police have continued to keep her son in jail only to create another " Jodge Mia" of August 21 tragedy in 2004, Rajia maintained.
Some police officials were also equally harassed for not investigating the Ramna bomb blast case as per the directive of the BNP led four-party alliance government.
One of the victimized officers was Akhtaruzzamn, who held the rank of assistant superintendent of police. He was given the charge of investigation into the Ramna Batamul bomb blast case. He lost his job as he failed to submit charge sheet to the liking of the then government.
Mizan, a student of Dhaka University, suffered doubly in connection with the bomb blast. He went to Ramna on the fateful day to enjoy the celebration of the Pahela Baishak .But he sustained severe injuries in the bomb blast. Police also picked Mizan for his alleged involvement in the blast. However, his name was finally dropped from the list of attackers.
At later stage Mizan joined the police service. But he was sacked from the police service during the last BNP led government for his suspected involvement in the bomb blast.
in the bomb blast.
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