The trial of seven accused, including former superintendent of police Babul Akhtar, has started with the recording of testimony in the Mahmuda Khanam Mitu murder case in Chittagong.
Chittagong's Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Jasim Uddin started taking testimony in this case on Sunday. Mitu's former police officer Mosharraf Hossain testified as the first witness. Lawyer Golam Mawla Murad was at the hearing on behalf of Babul Akhtar.
On the other hand, Chittagong Metropolitan PP Md Abdur Rashid was on the side of the state.
During the testimony, Babul Akter, Shahjahan Mia, Motaleb Mia Prakash alias Wasim, Anwar Hossain, Ehteshamul Haq Bhola and Shahjahan Mia were present in court while Quamrul Islam Shikdar alias Musa and Khairul Islam alias Kalu remained absconding.
Mitu's father claimed: “Mitu was killed because of Babul Akhtar's extramarital affairs. Babul Akhtar made this happen with his trusted sources. I demand justice for my daughter and demand maximum punishment for Babul Akhtar and those involved.”
Babul Akhtar's Lawyer Golam Mawla Murad said: "Testimony in the Mitu murder case has started in the court. Mitu's father Mosharraf Hossain testified on the first day.”
On September 13 last year, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) pressed charges against Babul Akter and six others in a case filed over the killing of his wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu.
Abu Zafar Md Omar Faruk, inspector of PBI and also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the chargesheet to the prosecution unit of the Chittagong court.
On June 5, 2016, unidentified assailants gunned down Babul's wife Mitu at the port city's GEC intersection while she was going to drop her son Mahir Akter, 7, at the pickup spot for his school bus.
Soon after the crime, Babul filed a murder case at Panchlaish Police Station against three unidentified men.
The case was transferred to the Police Bureau Investigation (PBI) in 2019 after Mitu's father, himself a retired police officer, filed a complaint against the CMP's mishandling of the case.
On May 12, 2021, the PBI submitted its final report and arrested Babul Akter in another case filed by Mitu's father and since then he has been in prison.
Babul Akhter also filed a no-confidence petition against the PBI report on October 14, 2021.
On November 3 last year, a Chittagong Court rejected the final report of PBI in the murder case and ordered it to conduct further investigation.