Mufti Hannan produced in Khulna court

	Your Right To Know
Tuesday, February 8, 2011	National

Ahmadiyya Mosque Bombing

Mufti Hannan produced in Khulna court

Staff Correspondent, Khulna

Chief of banned Harkat-ul-Jihad (Huji) Mufti Abdul Hannan was produced in the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) yesterday amid tight security in the case for bomb attack on Khulna Ahmadiyya mosque in 1999.

Moulana Obaidul Huq Abdullah, younger brother of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Sheikh Abdur Rahman was also brought to the same court.

Seven people were killed and 34 others injured in a bomb attack on an Ahmadiyya mosque in Nirala residential area under Khulna Sadar police station on October 8 in 1999.

CID of police submitted final report of the sensational case after a long investigation in 2001. The case was revived through court by the present government and Hannan was shown arrested in the case.

Investigation officer Khandaker Miraj Billah of CID said that Mufti Hannan was earlier quizzed in the case at Dhaka office of CID where he gave some important information.

He further said that Obaidul Huq Abdullah has also been shown arrested in the case.

Both the accused would again be produced before the court on March 2 this year as per an order of the CMM court.

URL: www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=173285

Bigots foil Ahmadiyya convention

	Your Right To Know
Monday, February 7, 2011	Front Page

Bigots foil Ahmadiyya convention

Staff Report

In the wake of protests from religious bigots, Gazipur district administration yesterday prevented the 87th annual convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat slapping section-144 in and around the venue.

Armed police were deployed at Bahadurpur Scout Training Camp where over 8,000 followers of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat gathered for the three-day annual convention.

Many of them broke down in tears hearing that they had to leave without taking part.

“Our democratic rights have been taken away due to threats from some madrasa people,” said Mir Mobasher Ali, a member of the convention organising committee.

“But we are respectful to the law, so we have accepted the government’s order,” he said.

According to Mizanur Rahman, additional superintendent of police Gazipur, a group of disgruntled locals presented a memorandum to the district administration yesterday demanding that the permit for the convention be revoked.

The SP said Mawlana Mostafa, Mawlana Sharfuddin and Mufti Ataur Rahman were present among others.

The district administration revoked the permit. And when violence was imminent, the authorities decided to impose section-144 in two square kilometres surrounding the venue, he said.

Section-144 does not allow any kind of public gathering.

Thousands of people were stuck inside the venue after the declaration of section-144, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat leaders said.

Over 3,000 people coming from different parts of the country also had to return, they added.

According to Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat leaders, they rented Bahadurpur Scout Training Camp for three days. The location was picked since it was away from locality so problems with local religious bigots could be averted, they said.

The programme, usually held at their national headquarters in Bakshibazar, was moved to Gazipur to accommodate more people.

For over a decade, followers of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat have been facing abuse and aggression of religious bigots across the country. Many of their houses have been looted from time to time and some have even been killed.

URL: www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=173186

Mufti Hannan on 5-day remand in Khulna

	Your Right To Know
Tuesday, December 28, 2010	National

Mufti Hannan on 5-day remand in Khulna

Ahmadiyya Mosque Attack

Staff Correspondent, Khulna

Banned Harkat-ul-Jihad (Huji) kingpin Mufti Abdul Hannan has been taken on a five-day remand for interrogation in connection with the case recorded with Khulna Sadar police station on October 9, 1999 for bomb attack on Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat mosque at Nirala in the city.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Md Barekuzzaman yesterday granted the remand after Mufti Hannan was taken there amid tight security in and around the court at around 11:30am.

Investigation officer (IO) of the case Inspector Khandaker Miraj Billah of Khulna zonal office of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had prayed for seven days’ remand for the leader of the banned Islamist outfit.

Hannan was brought to Khulna District Jail from Kashimpur Jail at 8:50pm on Sunday.

Seven people were killed and 41 others injured, six of them seriously, in bomb attack at the time of Jumma prayers on October 8 in 1999 at Nirala Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat mosque.

The case recorded with Khulna Sadar police station on the following day was later transferred to CID as police failed to reveal real motive behind the bomb attack and arrest anyone in this connection.

Inspector Rawshan Ali of CID who was made first investigation officer of this case submitted final report to the court on November 23 in 2001.

The case was, however, revived on January 18 this year as prayed through a petition to the CMM’s court by CID Inspector Khandaker Miraj Billah, the present IO.

“Mufti Abdul Hannan is still accused in 58 criminal cases recorded with different police stations of the country. The cases include the one recorded in connection with planting a 76kg bomb in an attempt to kill Sheikh Hasina who was then leader of the opposition in parliament,” said Khulna Jail Superintendent Md Alam Khan.

When taken to the dock yesterday, Mufti Hannan protested granting of the remand prayer, saying, “I am already facing death penalty in a case. So, there is no need to torture me anymore in the name of remand.”

URL: www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=167697