Chittagong: A Chittagong court on Tuesday summoned Awami League leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed to testify in a case filed over the firing by police on the motorcade of party President Sheikh Hasina on January 24, 1988.

Chittagong Divisional Special Judge M Ruhul Amin ordered them to appear before the court on March 15 to make their depositions in the case.

Public Prosecutor of the court Advocate Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury said they appealed to the court for issuing summons against 10 witnesses, including the three AL leaders and three relatives of three of those killed in the attack.

Meanwhile, a relative of the two deceased -- Hasan Murad and Ashok Kumar Das – each gave testimony before the court on Tuesday.

A total of 24 people, including Hasan and Ashok, were killed and at least 200 others sustained injuries as police opened fire on the motorcade of AL President Sheikh Hasina while going to take part in a rally at Laldhighi ground in the city on January 24, 1988 during the military rule of HM Ershad.

After the fall of the Ershad government, Shahidul Huda filed a case with the court of Chittagong Chief Metropolitan Judge on March 5, 1992.

A charge-sheet was submitted to the court accusing eight policemen, including then Police Commissioner of Chittagong Mirza Rakibul Huda, on November 3, 1998.

On May 9, 2000, the court framed charges against them.