ZCZC
BSS-50
HEARING-TRIAL-MURDER-ABHIJIT
Cop testifies in Abhijit murder trial
DHAKA, Dec 11, 2019 (BSS) – A police constable today testified in a case lodged over the murder of blogger and writer Abhijit Roy.
Constable Saiful Kabir appeared before Dhaka Anti-terrorism Special Tribunal and testified as 8th prosecution witnesses.
After his testimony, the defence cross-examined him and Judge Md Mujibur Rahman of the tribunal then adjourned the hearing till December 30.
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 was 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 the accused. Persons, whose names were dropped from the list of the 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 submitted 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 critical injuries in the attack.
BSS/CORR/MHR/KU/2032 HRS