Dhaka: A court has acquitted 22 leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), including its senior joint secretary general Habib-Un-Nabi Khan Sohel and Juba Dal president Sultan Salauddin Tuku, from charges related to obstructing police from conducting their duties.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Judge Abul Kashem of Dhaka Special Judge Court-1 delivered the verdict, overturning a previous conviction by the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate court. On November 20, 2023, the lower court had found each of the 22 individuals guilty and sentenced them to two years in jail. The convicts subsequently appealed the decision, leading to their acquittal in the higher court.
The case originated from an incident on October 28, 2017, when BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was scheduled to visit the party’s Naya Paltan office. As her motorcade approached the location, the convicted individuals reportedly obstructed police officers and allegedly threw brickbats at them. Paltan thana police filed a
case shortly after the incident, and charges were formally pressed on August 6, 2019.
The 22 acquitted BNP members include prominent figures such as BNP’s information and research affairs secretary Azizul Bari Helal, former Juba Dal president Saiful Alam Nirob, Swechchhasebak Dal general secretary Razib Ahsan, and former Chhatra Dal general secretaries Akramul Hasan Mintu and Habibur Rashid Habib, along with Juba Dal Dhaka South unit president Enamul Haque Rana. Advocate Jakir Hossain Jewel, representing Habib-Un-Nabi Khan Sohel, confirmed the acquittal, stating that the court allowed the appeal and cleared all charges against the defendants.