A Cox’s Bazar court has finished hearing the testimonies of five more witnesses on Monday in the murder trial of retired Bangladesh Army major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan.
Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Ismail recorded the depositions of Sergeant Md Ziaur Rahman, Sergeant Anisur Rahman, Ahmad Kabir Monu, Syed Kalam alias Dhola Mia and Md Kamrul Hasan on Monday, confirmed Public Prosecutor Faridul Alam.
So far, 31 people have testified in the case.
Earlier, the 15 accused in the case were brought to the court from Cox's Bazar District Jail at 9:30 am.
On July 31 last year, Sinha was shot dead at the Shamlapur police check-post in Baharchhara Union of Cox's Bazar while returning to town after filming for a documentary.
On August 5, Sinha's sister, Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, filed a case with Teknaf Senior Judicial Magistrate Court accusing nine members of law enforcement agencies of being involved in the killing, including Pradeep Kumar Das and Baharchhara police outpost inspector Liakat Ali.
On December 13, 2020, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) submitted a charge sheet against 15 people, including police source Ayaz and three APBn members, in connection with the case filed over Sinha's murder at a checkpost manned by APBn, where officers of the Teknaf police station intercepted Sinha's car.
All of the 15 who have been charged are currently in jail. Of them, 12 have given confessional statements before court except OC Pradeep Kumar Das, constable Sagar Dev and Rubel Sharma.
Other accused of the case are- Inspector of Baharchara Police outpost Liakat Ali, sub-inspectors Nandolal Rakkhit and Tutul, assistant sub-inspector Liton Mia; constables Shafanur Karim, Kamal Hossain, Abdullah AL Mamun, Md Rajib and Md Abdullah, ASI of APBN Md Shahjahan and Nurul Amin, Md Nizamuddin and Ayaz Uddin.
On June 27, Cox’s Bazar district and session judge Mohammad Ismail Hossain took charge of the case and declared the date for recording statements of 10 witnesses on July 26, 27 and 28, said public prosecutor advocate Faridul Alam.
But the date was postponed later due to government-imposed lockdown to contain the Covid-19 spread.