A Dhaka court on Thursday set August 4 as the date to pass an order on framing of charges against 13 Chhatra League activists of Jahangirnagar University, for the murder of a batch mate, Zubair Ahmed, who was a student of English department, last year.
The Second Additional District and Session’s Judge of Dhaka, Md Helal Uddin, set the date after hearing both sides. He also censured the accused and suggested that criminals must be punished. All 13 accused were in the dock.
An order on discharge petitions, filed by six of the accused, will also be provided that day. The petitioners claimed they were not present during the incident and they were victims of circumstance.
The hearing took place after the defence sought time extensions on three occasions. Yesterday, the defence filed another extension petition, saying that one of the accused was admitted to a hospital for treatment. But upon the judge’s insistence, the accused was brought to the court.
The victim’s brother was also present at the court. Lawyer Aminul Ghani Titu was appointed by the family to assist the prosecution.
After the hearing, Judge Md Helal Uddin reprimanded the accused. He said they were not students, and that they were inhuman.
“They did not learn anything. It would be better if they were beaten up ruthlessly, and then they would not have committed the murder. Punishment of such crimes must be ensured, or such instances will recur,” he said.
Defence lawyer Jamal Uddin echoed the judge in saying that those who are guilty must be punished.
Zubair, a former activist of Chhatra League, succumbed to his injuries on January 9 last year, at United Hospital in the city.
He was beaten and stabbed indiscriminately the previous afternoon on campus, allegedly by the accused and their aides, who belong to a rival faction of Chhatra League, the pro-Awami League students’ wing.
On January 30, seven of the accused were expelled from the university, while six others, who filed discharge petitions, were suspended for two years after the authorities found their direct involvement in the murder.
Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue sources said the victim had injury marks all over his body and died of internal bleeding.
Police submitted the charge sheet on April 8 last year, accusing the 13 students.