KHULNA, June 27, 2022 (BSS) - Journalists of Khulna today demanded a fresh probe into the journalist Humayun Kabir Balu killing case because of all the accused were acquitted due to weak investigation and flawed charge sheet.

They also demanded reinvestigation and fresh trial into the case at a discussion in observance of the 18th death anniversary of Journalist Humayun Kabir Balu at Khulna Press Club (KPC) with its President Nazrul Islam in the chair.

Humayun Kabir Balu, the then Editor of Dainik Janmobhumi and President of the KPC was murdered on June 27 in 2004 in front of his office-cum-residence in the city. He was returning home from his paternal house after handing over sweetmeat to his elderly mother for the successful result of his daughter in the SSC examination.

The speakers also demanded immediate arrests of the killers and mastermind behind the killing and trial the killers of another 30 journalists including Manik Saha and Sagar-Runi.

The journalist leaders urged the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take proper steps to reinvestigate into Balu killing case.

Lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for giving ‘Ekushey Padak’ to late journalists Humayun Kabir Balu and Manik Shaha for their outstanding roles during the Liberation War as well as in the field of journalism, they added.

Ex-KPC president Mokbul Hossain Mintu, Vice-presidents S M Sahid Hossain, Mahbub Alam Sohag, ex-general secretaries Md Saheb Ali, Mallick Sudhangsu, journalists Sohrab Hossain, Rakib Uddin Pannu, Arafat Hossain Rumi among others, addressed the meeting while KPC joint secretary Mahbubur Rahman Munna conducted it. A doa mahfil was also held at the end of the meeting.

Earlier, KPC leaders paid rich tributes to Humayun Kabir Balu on the Journalists Monument at KPC premises.

Meanwhile, journalists, employees of Dainik Janmobhumi and Rajpather Dabi, members of Humayun Kabir Balu Srimti Parisad paid rich tributes to the portrait of Humayun Kabir Balu at his office-cum-residence premises, offered doa mahfil and munajat at Iqbal Nagar and Al Hera Jame mosques and at his graveyard in City’s Basupara area. Recitation from holy Quran was also arranged.