The Speedy Trial Tribunal 4 Tuesday recorded testimony of two more prosecution witnesses in the sensational Bishwajit Das murder case and set September 12 for further hearing of witnesses in the case.
With this, the tribunal has so far recorded deposition of 28 witnesses out of 60. Public prosecutor SM Rafiqul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that they hoped to complete the witnesses’ deposition and cross examination by the end of this month.
Under the rules of the tribunal, a case has to be decided within 135 working days. However, a judge may extend the time, citing valid reasons.
Bishwajit, a 24-year-old tailor, was hacked to death by the Chhatra League activists in broad daylight in Bahadur Shah Park area during the opposition’s countrywide road-blockade programme on December 9 last year.
Of the 21 accused, eight are in jail. They are Mahfuzur Rahman Nahid, AHM Kibria, Quiyum Miah Tipu, GM Rasheduzzaman Shaon, Saiful Islam, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam alias Shakil, Emdadul Haque Emdad and Golam Mostafa. Of them, Shakil, Nahid, Shaon and Emdad made confessional statements before magistrates.
Tuesday, Judge ABM Nizamul Haque recorded the deposition of Jagannath University Deputy Registrar Rezaul Karim and Dhaka BAR Association’s former cultural secretary Shahin Ara Laily.
In her deposition, Laily said she was going to the court with her brother. At that time, a procession of the pro-BNP lawyers was coming towards Bahadur Shah Park. Suddenly, the group of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists of Jagannath University attacked the procession and started to hit them with rods and sticks.
“They also hit me and I fell down on the road side. The criminals then entered the Dhaka BAR hall room and attacked some lawyers there. Later they went to Bahadur Shah Park area and killed Bishwajit Das,” she added.
Dhaka’s Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Jahrul Haque on June 2 framed the charges against 21 Chhatra League activists of Jagannath University unit and transferred the case to the tribunal on June 30.
