SC lawyer, 32 others charged

Rapid Action Battalion yesterday pressed charges against Supreme Court lawyer barrister Shakila Farzana and 32 others in a case filed for their links with Shaheed Hamja Brigade, a Chittagong-based militant group.

Shakila is the daughter of BNP leader and former whip Syed Wahidul Alam. She is also joint general secretary of pro-BNP Nationalist Lawyers Forum.

Investigation officer of the case Ruhul Amin, who is assistant superintendent of police and working in Rab-7, submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, said court inspector AHM Moshiur Rahman.  

The names of another SC lawyer Hasanuzzaman Liton and Dhaka judge court lawyer Mahfuz Chowdhury Bapon, who were arrested along with Shakila in the capital for allegedly funding the militant organisation, and militant outfit Shaheed Hamja Brigade's Commander Moniruzzamn Don were in the charge sheet, said Lt Col Miftah Uddin Ahmed, commanding officer of Rab-7.

In the charge sheet, 83 people were made witnesses, the Rab official said.

On February 19 last year, in a drive, members of Rab-7 arrested 12 militants from Al Madrasatul Abu Bakar in Hathazari upazila and recovered laptops, memory cards, and other audio-video materials used in militant training classes.

Rab claimed that the madrasa was used as the theoretical training camp of the new militant outfit.

On February 23, a case was filed with Hathazari Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act. 

On February 22, the elite force busted a training centre of the militant outfit in Lotmoni hill area in Banshkhali upazila and recovered arms, ammunition and militant training equipment. During the drive, five militants were also arrested.

Another case was lodged with Banshkhali Police Station in this connection under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

On March 20 this year, a charge sheet was submitted against 28 people, including Shakila and two other lawyers.