DHAKA: The word of justice weeps alone as the trial of much-talked-about Ramna Batamul bomb blasts case has not come to an end in some 13 years after a huge blast during Bangla New Year celebration on April 14, 2001.

A total of ten people were killed and scores injured in the blasts during the traditional celebrations of Bangla New Year 1408 organized by Chhayanaut at Ramna Batamul in city.

The previous Awami League-led grand alliance government moved for immediate disposal of the cases that was delayed later.

The then government sent the cases to the Dhaka`s Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 for immediate disposal and the tribunal recorded depositions of 80 out of 135 witnesses in the cases.

Due to legal procedures, the case, then, was transferred to Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Court, which brought delay once again as the court managed to record dispositions of 11 witnesses only in the case during the government’s 5-year tenure.

State prosecutor M Maksud told banglanews “BNP-led government was not sincere on the case, the army backed government submitted the charge-sheet accusing 14 people including Mufti  Hannan on November 29, 2008 some 8 years after the blast; in fact, the trial began then”.

The trial had been delayed at the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court as it had no judge for long. The delay also caused as many of the accused were named in 21 August Grenade Attack case.

The defendants created obstacles at the trial’s every step, they applied to courts submitting time petitions without reasons, wasted time raising repeated or irrational questions during cross-examinations and even they cross-examined the investigation officer alone for 19 working days, he alleged.

Quite the opposite, defense lawyer Faruk Hossain denied the allegation of making delay in the case.

He said, “Due to the state’s negligence, the case was delayed that intercepts justice; the accused have remained chained with iron rod-cuffs for long and their human rights are being violated.”

The trial would be finished much earlier, if the state prosecution had been more sincere, he added.

Faruk alleged that the arguments in the case was about to be finished, their rebutter was underway; at that moments, the state prosecution applied for retaking of the case investigation officer’s deposition. They decided to go to the High Court challenging the application. Cconsequently the case was delayed again.

State prosecutor Maksud said a case can be delayed not only on the stage of argument but also moments before delivering its verdict.

Along with Mufti Hannan, the 13 other accused in the cases are Arif Hasan Sumon, Mawlana Akbar Hossain, Shahadat Ullah Jewel, Mawlana Abu Taher, Mawlana Abdur Rouf, Mawlana M Tazuddin, Mawlana Sabbir, Hafez Jahangir Alam, Mawlana Abu Bakar, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Hafez Mawlana Yahiaya and Mufti Abdul Hai.

Mawlana Akbar was enjoying bail. Later, court sent him to jail canceling the bail.

Mufti Hannan, Arif Hasan Sumon, Shahadat Ullah Jewel, Mawlana Abu Taher, Mawlana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid and Mawlana Abdur Rauf are in jail now while rests of the others are still in hiding.

On the day of the blast, Sergeant Amal Chandra of Babupura Police Station filed a murder case with Ramna Police Station. Later, the Detective Branch and Criminal Investigation Department took over the case.

In a latest development, the state brought witness before the court on Thursday. But killing plan was not disclosed there as the defendants came up with time petitions.

Hearing the both sides, the judge fixed April 22 for submitting the HC order.

In these ways, the case has been prolonging, lasting the stay of the accused in police custody and intercepting the justice.

BDST: 1700 HRS APR 12, 2014