The daughter of housewife Sagira Morshed testified in the case lodged over the sensational murder of her mother in the capital's Bailey Road area in 1989.
Sadia Chowdhury submitted her deposition at Dhaka’s First Speedy Trial Tribunal and later the defence cross-examined her.
As the defence failed to conclude the cross-examination, Judge Rafikul Islam adjourned the hearing till June 29.
Four persons including the elder brother of Sagira Morshed's husband were indicted in the case on December 2, 2020.
The accused are Sagira's brother-in-law Dr Hasan Ali Chowdhury, his wife Sayedatul Mahmuda, Mahmuda's brother Anas Mahmud alias Rezwan and contract killer Maruf Reza.
On March 9, 2020, the court accepted charge sheet, submitted by Investigation Officer and Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Inspector Rafikul Islam against the four accused.
Sagira Morshed, 34, was gunned down by unidentified muggers in front of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in the capital's Bailey Road on July 25, 1989.
Sagira's husband Salam Chowdhury filed the case on that day with Ramna police station against unidentified miscreants. A rickshaw-puller, who was present at the crime scene, identified two of the killers, but police had filed the initial charge sheet against one Montu.
Dhaka First Additional Sessions Judge Abu Bakar Siddique framed charges against Montu on January 17, 1991, and recorded testimonies of seven witnesses.
But during the hearing, the prosecution alleged that the name of Maruf Reza, a close relative of then home minister Mahmudul Hasan, came up during the investigation and was also arrested. But his name was dropped from the charge sheet.
Following a plea of the prosecution, the court ordered further investigation on May 23, 1991. But the proceedings were stayed by the High Court as Maruf Reza filed a petition.
On June 26, 2019, the High Court cleared the way for continuing the murder case as it dismissed the rule that had stayed the trial proceedings. The bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman also asked the PBI to conduct further investigation into the case and complete it within 60 working days. Later, the PBI arrested the four, who have already confessed their role in the murder.
