HC orders two ex-AL MPs and 13 others to surrender to lower court over 2001 murder case

The Supreme Court today (November 6) ordered two former Awami League lawmakers, HBM Iqbal and Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shaon, along with thirteen others to surrender in connection with a case filed over the killing of four people during a BNP meeting in Malibagh in 2001.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain ordered them to surrender before Dhaka District and Sessions Judge Court-8.

The Supreme Court issued the order after staying the trial court’s 2010 verdict that had acquitted the accused in the case.

The order followed a petition by lawyer Eunus Ali Mridha, former BNP president from Khilgaon Thana, who had filed the case in 2001, his lawyer, Advocate Aminul Islam, told The Business Standard.

According to the case document, a clash broke out between a meeting led by HBM Iqbal and a BNP meeting at Malibagh junction on February 13, 2001.

Four BNP activists – Jasim Uddin, Khokon, Abdur Rashid Molla and Najma Akhtar – were killed in a gunfire incident during the rally.

On December 29, 2002, a case was filed against 24 people, including HBM Iqbal, in connection with the incident.

However, in 2010, the Dhaka 1st Speedy Trial Tribunal acquitted 15 suspects. The trial against the remaining suspects continued.

Lawyer Aminul said the judge had not given detailed reasons for the acquittal. Therefore, after a change of government, the plaintiff filed a petition before the HC.

“On hearing the petition, the court ordered the 15 suspects to surrender. If they do not surrender within the stipulated time, they will be arrested,” he added.