HC orders surrender of ex-MP Iqbal, 14 others in Malibagh quadruple murder case

The High Court on Wednesday directed fifteen individuals, including two former Awami League MPs, HBM Iqbal and Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shawon, to surrender before the relevant judicial courts in connection with the Malibagh quadruple murder case in 2001.

They were acquitted of the charge by a tribunal in 2010, reports UNB.

The High Court bench, consisting of Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Md Sagir Hossain, issued the order on Wednesday after hearing a petition filed by Yunus Mridha, the then president of the Khilgaon Thana unit BNP.

The other accused are Imdadul Haque, Moniruzzaman Liton, Abdul Halim, Abdus Salam, Tarek Samsul Khan, Shawkat Hossain Nannu, Kabiruddin Ahmed, Kamrul Morshed, Jasimuddin, Abul Bashar, Munshi Kamruzzaman Kajal, Picchi Hannan, and Liaqat Hossain. Of them, Picchi Hannan, and Liaqat Hossain passed away.

Advocate Md Aminul Islam appeared in court to represent the petitioner.

Earlier in 2010, a Dhaka tribunal had relieved them based on a recommendation of the home ministry to withdraw the case.

Lawyer Aminul Islam mentioned that the judge who delivered the verdict had not provided any detailed reasoning for exempting the accused. As a result, the plaintiff in the case, Yunus Mridha, filed an appeal with the High Court seeking the cancellation of two orders from 2010.

“If the accused fail to surrender within the given timeframe, an arrest warrant will be issued against them,” said Adv Aminul adding that the trial against the accused would continue in the case.

An anti-hartal procession led by Dr. Iqbal and another pro-hartal procession led by BNP collided at Malibagh intersection on Feb 13, 2001. Four BNP activists were gunned down in the clash that ensued.

The deceased were Jasim Uddin, Khokon, Abdur Rashid Mollah and Nazma Aktar.

Various photographs of terrorists Dulal and Khorshed Alam firing arms were published in a number of newspapers the next day. A charge sheet was submitted on Dec 29, 2002 accusing 24 individuals.

On August 17, 2009, the assistant secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Abu Sayed Molla, recommended the withdrawal of the names of some defendants from the case considering it as a 'political harassment case'.