KHULNA, Jan 15, 2021 (BSS)- – Journalists and other socio-cultural and political organizations in the industrial city on Friday observed the 17th death anniversary of eminent journalist Manik Saha demanding to unearth the masterminds behind his killing and ensure capital punishment.
“We were not satisfied with the verdict of the journalist Manik Saha murder case which Khulna Speedy Trial Tribunal announced on November 30, 2016” speakers told a commemoration meeting held coinciding with the death anniversary of Saha, who was killed in a bomb attack on January 15 in 2004 near the Khulna Press Club (KPC).
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.
Shaha was a senior reporter of vernacular Bangla daily Sangbad. He did also work for the New Age, Ekushey TV and BBC radio.
Chaired by President of Khulna Press Club S M Zahid Hossain, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Mokbul Hossain Mintu, Mahbub Alam Sohag, Rokib Shah Alam, Mozammel Haque Howlader, Rakib Uddin Pannu, Humayun Kabir, Mallick Sudhangsu, Abu Tayeb, Sunil Das, Sojrab Hossain, Mahbubur Rahman Munna, Maksud Ali, Debobroto Roy, Abdul Malek, Asaduzzaman Reaz and Delip Borman.
They earlier placed wreaths at the monument built on the KPC premises in memory of the slain journalists.
Different organizations, including Manik Saha Smrity Parisad, Rattan Sen Public Library and Khulna Union of Journalists (KUJ) 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 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, 2016, Khulna Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced nine outlaws of banned Biplobi (Janajuddha) and Purba Banglar Communist Party to life term imprisonment and acquitted two outlaws.