9 prosecution witnesses testify in Bernicat convoy attack case as 2 more depose
The court fixed 14 October for recording testimony from the remaining witnesses.
Highlights:
- Two more prosecution witnesses testify before Dhaka court
- Nine of 28 prosecution witnesses have now testified
- Court sets 14 October for next witness hearing
Two more prosecution witnesses testified today (19 July) in the case over the 2018 attack on the motorcade of former US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, taking the total number of witnesses examined to nine.
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Grish Chandra Barman of Mohammadpur Police Station and Azmal Hossain gave their depositions before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nazmin Akter.
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Defence counsel Gazi Faisal Islam subsequently cross-examined both witnesses. The court later fixed 14 October for the next hearing to record testimony from the remaining prosecution witnesses, bench assistant Touhid Khan said.
A total of 28 prosecution witnesses are scheduled to testify in the case, with evidence from nine witnesses completed so far.
The nine accused are banned Chhatra League Mohammadpur unit President Naimul Hasan, Mohammad Ishtiaq Mahmud, Firoz Mahmud, Mir Amjad Hossain, Saju Islam, Rajibul Islam, Shahidul Alam Khan, Siam and Ali Ahmed.
The case was filed with Mohammadpur Police Station on the night of 10 August, 2018 by Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar after Bernicat's convoy came under attack while returning from a programme in the capital.
Police submitted the charge sheet on 18 January, 2021, and witness testimony began on 28 March, 2022.
After six witnesses had testified, the court ordered a further investigation in December 2022 following statements that mentioned Mohammad Ishtiaq Mahmud.
On 1 January, 2023, a Dhaka court ordered a reinvestigation into the case. Following the supplementary probe, Detective Branch Assistant Superintendent of Police Rajan Saha submitted a supplementary charge sheet against nine accused, including Mohammad Ishtiaq Mahmud, on 19 September, 2023.
A Dhaka metropolitan magistrate formally framed charges against the accused on 19 November, 2023, paving the way for the trial to begin.
