KHULNA, Jan 15, 2020 (BSS) – Journalists and other socio-cultural and political organizations in the industrial city today observed the 16th death anniversary of eminent journalist Manik Saha with the demand for capital punishment of his killers to High Court.
“We are not satisfied about the verdict of journalist Manik Saha murder case which Khulna Speedy Trial Tribunal announced on November 30, 2016,” speakers said today in a commemoration meeting held coinciding with death anniversary of Saha, who was killed in a bomb attack on January 15, 2004 near the Khulna Press Club (KPC).
The speakers also noted with sorrow that at least 25 newsmen, including
Humayun Kabir Balu, were killed in the region over the past two decades but most of the masterminds and assassins still remained beyond the reach of justice.
Saha was a senior reporter of vernacular Bangla Daily Sangbad. He also worked for the New Age, Ekushey TV and BBC radio.
Chaired by President of Khulna Press Club SM Nazrul Islam, the rally was addressed, among others, by Mokbul Hossain Mintu, Sheikh Abu Hassan, S M Zahid Hossain, Md Saheb Ali, Mahbub Alam Sohag, Wadudur Rahman panna, Anisuzzaman, Mozammel Haque Hawlader, Abu Tayeb, Tariqul Islam, Samrat and Shah Alam.
They earlier placed wreaths at a monument built on the KPC premises in
memory of the slain journalist.
Different organisations, including Manik Saha Smrity Parishad, ruling
Awami league, CPB, Udichi, Khulna Union of Journalists (KUJ), Swadhinata Sangbadik Forum also paid tributes to his memory while Chhatra Union of Khulna unit staged a candlelight vigil there.
Immediately after the murder police filed two cases, one being under
Explosives Act, accusing “anonymous killers” for the assassination and after investigations submitted the charge sheet in the court of Chief Metropolitan magistrate naming 13 suspects on December 12, 2008.
On November 30 in 2016, Khulna Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced nine activists of banned Biplobi (Janajuddha) and Purba Banglar Communist Party to life-term imprisonment and acquitted two activists of Manik Saha killing case.