DHAKA, Sept 11, 2019 (BSS) – Starting of the first day of hearing in the
case lodged over murder of blogger and writer Abhijit Roy did not go that
well, as there was no witness appeared today before Dhaka Anti-terrorism
Special Tribunal to testify.
Judge Md Mujibur Rahman of the tribunal then adjourned the hearing till
October 6, allowing a time plea of the prosecution.
The tribunal on August 1 framed charges against six militants including
sacked army Major Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque.
The accused in the case are sacked Major Zia, Mozammel Hossain alias
Saimon, Abu Siddique Sohel, Akram Hossain alias Abir, Md Mukul Rana, Md
Arafat Rahman and Shafiur Rahman Farabi. All of them are leaders of banned
militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).
Of the six accused, sacked army Major Syed Mohammad Ziaul Haque alias
Zia and Akram Hossain alias Abir are yet to be arrested and arrest warrant
issued against them on April 11.
The tribunal on April 11 accepted charge sheet filed against the six in
the case and dropped name of 15 from the list of accused.
Persons, whose names were dropped from the list of accused, are- Sadek
Ali alias Mithu, Mohammad Touhidur Rahman, Aminul Mallik, Zafran Hasan,
Julhash Biswas, Abdur Sabur alias Raju Sad, Mainul Hasan Shamim, Manna Yahia
alias Mannan Rahi, Abul Bashar, Mukul, Rana, Selim Hasan, Ali alias Khalil,
Anik and Antu.
Investigation officer (IO) of the case and inspector of Counter
Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Monirul Islam on March 13 filed the
charge sheet before the court.
Fugitives Major Zia and Akram are the masterminds of the killing while
Farabi was charged for instigating the murder. Md Mukul Rana alias Shafiqul
Islam alias Hadi, who was involved in the killing, died in a shootout with
Detective Branch (DB) of police.
ABT men hacked Avijit to death on Dhaka University campus when he along
with his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya was returning from the Amar Ekushey Book
Fair on February 26 of 2015. His wife Bonya suffered critically injuries in
the attack.