BNP-Jamaat arson cases

Seven more tribunals for trial

“Since the number of cases is so large, the two tribunals were finding it very difficult to handle them all,” home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal

The government is going to set up seven more special anti-terrorism tribunals at five divisional headquarters in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Rangpur to try arson cases against leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, sources said yesterday.
The leaders were accused of arson with fire bombs and instigating violence across the country during a movement against the Awami League (AL)-led government in 2013-14.
Seven district and session judges would be posted to the proposed special tribunals to try the cases, law ministry and home ministry sources said.
A total of 42 posts, including seven judges and an equal number of bench assistants, would be created for the new tribunals, the sources added.
At least 650 cases have been field against BNP-Jamaat men and others under the Anti-terrorism Act, 2009. At present, however, there are only two such special tribunals in Dhaka and Chittagong to try these cases.
“Since the number of cases is so large, the two tribunals were finding it very difficult to handle them all,” home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The Independent.
“The seven proposed tribunals will help in faster disposal of the cases,” he said. The law ministry would send a proposal in this regard to the Cabinet Division for tabling it at the next meeting of the Secretary Committee on Administrative Improvement to be held soon, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
At least 85 people were killed and 1,320 injured during the violent BNP-Jamaat movement across the country in 2013-14.
Of those killed, 51 had succumbed following direct attacks by petrol bombs, fire bombs and Molotov cocktails. At least 570 vehicles (including buses, trucks, mini-vans, private cars etc.) were torched and 454 others vandalised. Eleven incidents of railway sabotage took place, resulting in derailment of trains that subsequently killed and injured many passengers.
In 2015, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had told Parliament that the government would set a special tribunal to try
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her associates for instigating petrol bombings and sabotage during the BNP-led agitation.

 

BNP-Jamaat arson cases

Seven more tribunals for trial

“Since the number of cases is so large, the two tribunals were finding it very difficult to handle them all,” home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal

The government is going to set up seven more special anti-terrorism tribunals at five divisional headquarters in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Rangpur to try arson cases against leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, sources said yesterday. The leaders were accused of arson with fire bombs and instigating violence across the country during a movement against the Awami League (AL)-led government in 2013-14. Seven district and session judges would be posted to the proposed special tribunals to try the cases, law ministry and home ministry sources said. A total of 42 posts, including seven judges and an equal number of bench assistants, would be created for the new tribunals, the sources added. At least 650 cases have been field against BNP-Jamaat men and others under the Anti-terrorism Act, 2009. At present, however, there are only two such special tribunals in Dhaka and Chittagong to try these cases. Since the number of cases is so large, the two tribunals were finding it very difficult to handle them all, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The Independent. The seven proposed tribunals will help in faster disposal of the cases, he said. The law ministry would send a proposal in this regard to the Cabinet Division for tabling it at the next meeting of the Secretary Committee on Administrative Improvement to be held soon, a ministry official said on condition of anonymity. At least 85 people were killed and 1,320 injured during the violent BNP-Jamaat movement across the country in 2013-14. Of those killed, 51 had succumbed following direct attacks by petrol bombs, fire bombs and Molotov cocktails. At least 570 vehicles (including buses, trucks, mini-vans, private cars etc.) were torched and 454 others vandalised. Eleven incidents of railway sabotage took place, resulting in derailment of trains that subsequently killed and injured many passengers. In 2015, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had told Parliament that the government would set a special tribunal to try BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her associates for instigating petrol bombings and sabotage during the BNP-led agitation.