Hasina, 42 others released from Paltan killing case

Opposition left out of 365 political cases selected for withdrawal

BSS, Dhaka

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court Monday released Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 42 others from the charges of killing of six activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir at Paltan area on October 28 in 2006.
Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Dilara Alo Chandona on behalf of the CMM Monday issued the release order following a petition submitted by the Metropolitan Public Prosecutor (PP) Advocate Abdullah Abu. The court also allowed withdrawing of the case from the court.
Former Presidium Member of Awami League Tofail Ahmed, former general secretary Abdul Jalil, and Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun were also released, among others.
According to the court sources, the government sponsored high-powered committee to review the political cases headed by State Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Advocate Qamrul Islam at a meeting on July 8 recommended withdrawal of the Paltan killing case. Following the recommendation, the Home Ministry instructed the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dhaka to take necessary steps to withdraw the case.
The Metropolitan PP Advocate Abdullah Abu on August 12 submitted a petition to the CMM Court seeking permission to withdraw the charges against Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and 42 others as the case was filed with Paltan Thana against the AL leaders with ulterior political motives.
After completing the arguments, the Metropolitan Magistrate ordered release of all the accused of the case and withdraw the case from the court.
Six cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir were killed and scores of injured during a day-long clash between the supporters of 14-party alliance led by Awami League and the four-party alliance on October 28 in 2006.
ATM Sirajul Haque, Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Motijheel Thana unit filed the case against AL chief Sheikh Hasina and 42 leaders and workers of the party with Motijheel Police Station.
TBT news desk adds: Earlier, the government decided on August 5 to drop 121 more cases of political harassment taking the total of the number of such cases to be dropped to 365 so far. But these include not a single against any opposition leader. The Home Ministry committee for scrutiny in its first meeting on June 10 recommended cancellation of 62 cases including 12 against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in its second meeting on June 21 recommended 46 cases, in its 3rd meeting on July 1 recommended 66 cases, in its fourth meeting on July 15 recommended 69 cases and in the 5th meeting August 5 recommended 121 cases for withdrawal. The veteran AL leaders, the cases against whom have been recommended for withdrawal include among others Sajeda Chowdhury, Tofael Ahmed, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and his wife, Sylhet mayor Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran, HBM Iqbal, Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton, AKM Rahmatullah, Haji Mohammed Selim and deputy speaker Shawkat Ali.