DHAKA: A Dhaka court on Thursday framed charge against 13 members of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-Al Islami (HUJI), including its chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, for bomb explosion at a CPB rally at Paltan in the city.

Dhaka third additional metropolitan judge Mohammad Imrul Kayes passed the order under explosive act on Thursday noon.

The court also set September 14 for the next day of hearing.

Among the 13 accused, Mufti Hannan and four others are in jail but eight others are absconded.

On January 20 in 2001, a grenade attack on a CPB rally at Paltan Maidan killed four people on the spot, while another died in hospital.

More than 100 people were injured in the attack.

The incident prompted two cases - one for the killings and the other for explosions.

On November 27, 2013, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted charge-sheet against 13 members of HUJI, including Mufti Hannan, for bombing a CPB rally in city.

After two years of the attack, Crime Investigation Department (CID) submitted the final report on December 17 in 2003 accusing none.

On January 27 in 2005, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate asked the authorities concerned to re-investigate the matter following a petition for fresh probe into the cases.

Investigation officer, CID inspector Mrinal Kanti Saha submitted the charge-sheet on November 27 past year, accusing the 13 of being involved.

They are also accused for their alleged involvement in grenade attacks of August 21 in 2004 and Ramna Batamul bomb blast on 14 April in 2001.

BDST: 1919 HRS, SEP 04, 2014