7 students to face trial in case filed by cops

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Seven Dhaka University (DU) students were cleared yesterday in a case filed by an army personnel in connection with the torching an army vehicle in August last year.

They, however, have to face trial in another case filed by police in connection with the same incident.

Affirming that the trial would go on, Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday said the government has decided to set free those charged with violating the Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

“The government is sympathetic to those facing charge of violating the Emergency Power Rules, but its [the government's] stance regarding those actively involved with violent incidents is clear,” Zillur said while briefing reporters on government decisions regarding the release of DU teachers and students and cases filed in connection with the August 20-22 demonstrations.

The government yesterday decided to withdraw 10 cases filed in connection with violating the EPR during the August turmoil.

Names of 18 out of 25 people charged with torching an army vehicle during the August 20-22 violence were dropped from the charge sheet Monday. Shahbagh police yesterday submitted the final report against the rest seven students in the case filed by the army personnel on August 26 in connection with torching his vehicle and assaulting him at Shahbagh.

After Sub-inspector Asgar Ali Khan, investigation officer of the case from Shahbagh Police Station, submitted the final report before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, Dhaka appealing for discharging them from the charge, the court accepted it.

The students are Kazi Muhammad Zahidul Islam Biplob, Deen Islam Angel, Rafiqul Islam Sujon, Liton Mahmud, Manobendra Dev, Deen Islam and Asaduzzaman.

Charge against Rashedul Habib, Muhammad Ibrahim, KM Mahbub Alam Shyamol, Enamul Haque, Golam Azam Khomeni, DU correspondent of Banglabazar Patrika, Kased Ali, Chanchal Karmakar, ABM Shamsuddoha, Siddique Nazmul Alam, Kamruzzaman, Sohel Rana Tipu, Abdul Karim, Abul Hasan, Arifuzzaman, Delwar Rahman Dipu, Mizanur Rahman, Rashedul Mahmud and Sarwar Alam were dropped Monday.

Three days before the army personnel filed the case, police filed a case in connection with the same incident. On January 7, charges were pressed against the seven and 18 others who are absconding.

Talking about the charges, the education adviser said, “There is clear and strong evidence that the seven were involved in violent activities. However, we have taken initiatives for quick disposal of the case.”

Meanwhile, in a bid to calm the escalating unrest in universities, the government decided to withdraw 10 cases filed in connection with violating the EPR.

Of them, two each were filed with Mirpur, Ashulia and Savar police stations, one with Kotwali Police Station, one with Hathazari Police Station in Chittagong, one with Sylhet Police Station and another with Mymensingh Police Station.

Asked whether charges in the 10 cases were baseless since the government decided not to continue with the proceedings Zillur said, “I cannot comment about their legality and do not want to. You have to remember that the government has to think about different kinds of demands from different people.”

Sources said several other cases filed in connection with the August demonstrations are yet to be withdrawn.

The government had tried and succeeded to work out a respectable solution on the basis of principle, the education adviser said, hoping that normalcy will be restored on university campuses.

“We do not want to plunge into the culture of anarchy again so that we can concentrate on national challenges like the upcoming elections,” he added.

A presidential order Monday pardoned 10 Rajshahi University (RU) students and an employee of the institution, who were convicted on December 12 of torching a Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) vehicle during the campus violence there triggered by the DU demonstrations.

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