The verdict in the New Eskaton double murder case against Bakhtiar Alam Rony, son of former Awami League lawmaker Pinu Khan, is scheduled to be delivered on January 30.
Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Session's Judge Md Monjurul Imam fixed the date on Tuesday after closing arguments from both sides, reports UNB.
The court was supposed to pronounce its judgment on October 4, 2018. However, it deferred the delivery of the verdict for the second time in the double murder case as the prosecution filed a petition to summon the investigation officer (IO) of the case for rehearing.
Following the petition, Judge of the Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Session Judge's Court 1, Md Monjurul Imam, asked Detective Branch Sub-Inspector and IO Dipak Kumar Das to present a phone call-list to the court on October 17, 2018.
However, the verdict was supposed to be given on May 8, but was deferred as the Judge at that time Md Al Mamun, was unable to prepare the judgment.
A total of 28 out of 37 prosecution witnesses testified in the case.
According to the charge sheet, an intoxicated Rony indiscriminately fired gunshots from his car near the Dilu Road area of New Eskaton in Dhaka on April 13, 2015.
Rickshaw-puller Abdul Hakim and auto-rickshaw driver Yakub were both injured in the incident. Hakim succumbed to his injuries at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital on April 15. Yakub also died on April 23.
Hakim’s mother Monowara Begum filed the murder case on April 15, 2015.
Rony was arrested on May 30, 2015, based on information provided by his driver Imran Fakir. Rony’s friends Tiger Kamal and Md Jahangir, who were present in the vehicle at the time of the shooting, also gave judicial statements before the court.
On July 2, 2015, a Dhaka court sent Rony to jail after rejecting his bail petition.
Rony obtained a licence for the firearm used in the shooting from the Dhaka District Administration in March, 2010, on the grounds of personal security.
In June, 2015, a Supreme Court lawyer sent a legal notice to the home secretary and the deputy commissioner of Dhaka to cancel Rony’s firearm licence.
