Chittagong: A Chittagong court on Wednesday relieved 18 people, including Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and Nizam Hazari MP of Feni, in a case filed for an attempt to murder an Awami League leader 22 years ago.

District and Sessions Judge Nurul Huda passed the order.

Fifteen of the accused were present in the dock during the hearing while three others remain fugitive.

On 14 July, closing the law-point arguments by both prosecution and defence counsel, a court fixed 22 July for delivering verdict on the case, said Abul Hashem, Chittagong public prosecutor.

The court acquitted all the 18 accused from the attempt-to-murder charge as the allegation brought against them could not be proved in the court, he added.

According to the prosecution, a group of miscreants attacked Sufian Siddique, the then Awami League leader, during a public meeting of Sheikh Hasina at Laldighi Maidan in the city on 24 January 1993.

Sufian Siddique filed the case accusing 18 people on charge of attempting to murder him on that day.

On 7 March 1993, police submitted a chargesheet against the accused.

Following a petition filed by an accused, the High Court later stayed the case proceedings.

However, a High Court division bench in March 2014 ordered revival of the case.

But the court order reached the Chittagong court in March this year. Later, the court fixed 6 April for resuming the trial in the case.