A Khulna court on Thursday cleared eight accused of charges in the 2003 death of two policemen in a bomb attack.

Khulna Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Judge Mahmuda Khatun gave the order during a hearing.

The acquitted are Abdur Rashi Malitha Tapan, Milan, Kamal, Biplab, Sheikh Sahadat Hossain Raju, Asaduzzaman Tipu, Ekram Hossain, and Rafiqul Islam Milton, lawyer KM Iqbal Hossain, who represented the state, said.

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According to the case complaint, on March 3, 2003, policemen Shariful, Ramesh Chandra, Nizam Uddin and Maniruzzaman were on duty at the Power House intersection of Khulna city.

Around 7:50pm some unidentified people hurled a bomb at them which blew off Maniruzzaman's legs completely and left Shariful and Ramesh severely injured.

Later, Shariful and Ramesh were declared dead after being rushed to the hospital.

Sonadanga Police Station Sub-Inspector Ashraful Islam filed two cases under the Explosive Substances Act 1908 against unnamed people.

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On September 4, 2004, police submitted a charge sheet to the court against nine people.

Of the accused, Riazul Islam Masud died; of the acquitted, Raju was in jail. Milton, Tipu, and Milan were out on bail; Ekram, Kamal, Biplab and Malitha remained absconding.