Two AL leaders behind the plot: Mufti Hannan
Mufti Abdul Hannan, the prime accused in planting bombs to kill Awami League President Sheikh Hasina at Kotalipara in Gopalganj 10 years ago, yesterday named two Awami League leaders to have been involved in the plot. The two leaders are AL's Religion Affairs Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and its Gopalganj district unit Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ali Khan.
"Grill the two leaders as they know everything," Mufti Hannan, also a front ranking leader of banned Islamist outfit Harkat-ul Jihad al Islami (HuJI) Bangladesh, shouted at journalists, who were waiting outside the courtroom of the Gopalganj District and Sessions Judge's Court.
Mufti Hannan, an Afghan war veteran, was brought to the court of additional district and session judge Golam Morshed for his appearance in three cases involving the incident of planting bombs at the venue of a public rally of the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina at Kotalipara in 2000.The cases were filed on charge of attempt to kill, treason and under explosive substance act.
The remote-controlled 76-kg bombs were recovered at Kotalipara and a bomb-making factory was unearthed in the BSCIC industrial area in Gopalganj between July 20 and 23 in 2000.
Mufti Hannan was brought to Gopalganj amid tight security for the first time at about 11:00am yesterday, nine years after the proceedings of the cases started. But the hearing was not held yesterday and the accused were sent back to the district jail.
Hannan said he was not involved in the incident and rather he was made a scapegoat.Hannan received life sentence in an arms case involving the same incident.
UNB adds: Pleading not guilty in the court, Hannan told newsmen at the court veranda that it was a drama staged by Sheikh M Abdullah and Mahbub Ali Khan.
In a staged drama, they had planted the bombs at the venue of Sheikh Hasina's public meeting at Kotalipara on July 19, 2000.
"Where are they now," he said raising his voice and pointing fingers at Abdullah and Mahbub Ali. "They are now close associates of the Prime Minister and making huge windfall money."
"Grill the two leaders as they know everything," Mufti Hannan, also a front ranking leader of banned Islamist outfit Harkat-ul Jihad al Islami (HuJI) Bangladesh, shouted at journalists, who were waiting outside the courtroom of the Gopalganj District and Sessions Judge's Court.
Mufti Hannan, an Afghan war veteran, was brought to the court of additional district and session judge Golam Morshed for his appearance in three cases involving the incident of planting bombs at the venue of a public rally of the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina at Kotalipara in 2000.The cases were filed on charge of attempt to kill, treason and under explosive substance act.
The remote-controlled 76-kg bombs were recovered at Kotalipara and a bomb-making factory was unearthed in the BSCIC industrial area in Gopalganj between July 20 and 23 in 2000.
Mufti Hannan was brought to Gopalganj amid tight security for the first time at about 11:00am yesterday, nine years after the proceedings of the cases started. But the hearing was not held yesterday and the accused were sent back to the district jail.
Hannan said he was not involved in the incident and rather he was made a scapegoat.Hannan received life sentence in an arms case involving the same incident.
UNB adds: Pleading not guilty in the court, Hannan told newsmen at the court veranda that it was a drama staged by Sheikh M Abdullah and Mahbub Ali Khan.
In a staged drama, they had planted the bombs at the venue of Sheikh Hasina's public meeting at Kotalipara on July 19, 2000.
"Where are they now," he said raising his voice and pointing fingers at Abdullah and Mahbub Ali. "They are now close associates of the Prime Minister and making huge windfall money."
http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=173369
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