The four accused Chhatra League activists in Jahangirnagar University student Zubair Ahmed murder case, who escaped from the courtroom after denied bail, are threatening the prosecution witnesses for not giving deposition against them.
Such frequent threatening by the accused forced the Speedy Trial Tribunal 4 to adjourn proceedings for the second consecutive day yesterday. Judge ABM Nizamul Haque set May 4 for the next hearing.
The 17th witness did not appear before the tribunal on April 20 when the recording of testimony was deferred until yesterday.
Out of the 37 prosecution witnesses, 19 have given depositions so far in the sensational case.
Court sources say if the witnesses fail to give deposition, the killers might be relieved from the charges or their punishment would be lenient.
SM Rafiqul Islam, public prosecutor of the tribunal, said: “The witnesses are not coming to give deposition as the escaped accused are now threatening the witnesses for not give deposition in the case.”
On February 23, four accused – Ashiqul, Rais, Akram and Ishtiaq Arup – fled the courtroom in front of lawyers and the police soon after their bails had been cancelled.
Earlier, six accused including the escaped four accused, beat up JU students Razibul Islam and Nazmul Hossain near the Dhaka District Court premises after they had appeared before the court on January 19 to observe the trial.
After the assault incident, the victims filed a general diary with Kotwali police station. On January 29, Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam submitted an investigation report to the tribunal mentioning that the allegation of assault and threat of murder on two students by six of the accused in the case was found authentic.
Former Chhatra League activist Zubair, 23, then a final year of English department, died at the United Hospital in the capital on January 9, 2012. He was tortured brutally by 40-45 Chhatra League activists of the rival group on the campus the previous day.
The university authorities filed a murder case with Ashulia police station and named 13 Chhatra League activists.
The JU Syndicate after an investigation found their direct involvement in the killing and expelled them for different terms from the campus.
