Detective Branch (DB) Inspector Md Tajul Islam, also the current investigation officer in Bishwajit Das murder case, will testify on September 26.
The cross-examination of the previous IO, Md Mahbubul Alam, ended on Tuesday at the Speedy Trial Tribunal 4. The defence counsels of eight detained accused questioned him.
Mahbub, who was the then sub-inspector of Sutrapur police station, during his deposition on September 22, said he identified 16 accused, who had chopped and beaten Bishwajit in public, through print media reports and video footage.
He handed over the case docket and necessary documents to the present IO on December 15 last year.
Public prosecutor SM Rafiqul Islam said deposition of all the important witnesses had been complete. “We will decide after the testimony of the current investigation officer whether we need more witnesses in the case or not.”
Generally, an IO is placed as the last witness in a case.
The tribunal has so far recorded depositions of 31 out of 60 prosecution witnesses in the case. The trial began on July 14 with the first witness’ statement.
The case was transferred to Speedy Tribunal 4 from the Dhaka’s
Metropolitan Sessions’ Judge’s Court on June 30. Charges were framed against the 21 Chhatra League activists on June 2.
The Speedy Trial Act stipulates wrapping up of a case within 135 working days. However, the judge can extend the time with valid reasons.
Of the 21 accused, all activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League of Jagannath University unit, eight are currently in jail. They were placed at the court on Tuesday.
Bishwajit, a 24-year-old tailor, was hacked to death near Victoria Park in Old Dhaka by the Chhatra League activists during the opposition’s countrywide road-blockade programme on December 9 last year.
