Attack on Bernicat’s convoy: Court accepts chargesheet

A Dhaka court accepted the chargesheet against nine people including BCL leader Naimul Hasan in a case lodged over the attack on the convoy of the then US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia S Bernicat in August 2018.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jaki Al Farabi accepted the chargesheet on Wednesday (October 4).

The remaining chargesheeted accused are Mohammad Ishtiaq Mahmud, brother-in-law of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik’s (Sujan) secretary Badiul Alam Majumder, Firoj Mahmud, Mir Amjad Hossain, Saju Islam, Rajibul Islam, Shahidul Alam Khan, Siam and Oli Ahmed.

Of them, the court issued an arrest warrant against Mohammad Ishtiaq Mahmud, as he is absconding.

Detective Branch (DB) of Police on October 1 submitted a supplementary chargesheet against nine individuals, including BCL leader Naimul Hasan.

The nine accused were formally charged on March 1, 2022, and the trial commenced on March 28 of the previous year.

Shusashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar filed the case with Mohammadpur Police Station on August 10, 2018, following the attack.

On August 4, 2018, the nine accused, along with some 15 to 20 unidentified people, gathered near the Iqbal Road residence of Badiul Alam and chased Bernicat’s car, according to the probe report.

The accused then threw brick chips at it, the report added.

Later, the accused vandalised the house of the complainant and made death threats to his wife and son, according to the charge sheet.