Own Correspondent: The court sentenced Ershad Hossain, the commander of the banned militant organization Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), to 20 years in prison in a case under the Explosives Act eight years ago.
The Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Chittagong, Shariful Alam Bhunya, announced the verdict in this case on Tuesday. The court acquitted the other three accused in the case as the charges were not proved.
Convicted Ershad Hossain, alias Mamun, of Sarkarpara village in Dinajpur district Son of Riazul Islam. He was the commander of JMB’s Chittagong district, according to law enforcement agencies.
And the three acquitted are Bulbul Ahmed Sarkar alias Fuad, son of Akhter Hossain Sarkar of Tulshipara of Gaibandha district, and Mominul Islam, son of Kot Chandpur of Jhenaidah district. Sujan and Mahabubur Rahman, alias Khokon, sons of Abdul Gani of Ichanagar area of Karnaphuli police station in Chittagong city,
While announcing the verdict, Judge Shariful Alam Bhunya observed that the complaint was against one person, who was arrested on the spot. The operation was carried out based on information about the location of JMB members. Bomb-making equipment was also seized.
Accused Ershad gave a statement under Section 164. The statement of the accused is proven to be true and voluntary. As the charge under Section 4 of the Explosives Act was proved on the basis of deposition and evidence, and since JMB is prohibited and a threat to public life, he was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor and a fine of Tk 20,000, in default of 1 year.
The charges against the other accused have not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. For this reason, they have been acquitted.
