Rob murder case transferred to STT in Rajshahi

Awami League mayoral candidate SMA Rob murder case has been transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal in Rajshahi.

Order to transfer the case was passed by the higher court on March 10. The letter signed by Deputy Registrar-2 Md Daliluddin Ahmed of Supreme Court reached the office of judge Abdus Samad of Khulna STT on March 23. The case docket was sent to Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal (STT) the same day.

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Charge against the accused of this case was framed in the Khulna Speedy Trial Tribunal on May 27 in 2002. Earlier, the case was under trial in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge.

The Speedy Trial Tribunal Judg Abdus Samad felt embarrassed to try the case when a group of supporters of the slain AL leader raised slogan in the court compound during deposition of prosecution witnesses on November 12 last year.

Rob supporters demonstrated in the court compound to lodge their protest against detention of two relatives of the complainant of the case. Following this, Judge Abdus Samad wrote a letter to the higher court to transfer the case elsewhere.

Awami League Mayoral candidate SMA Rob was gunned down on August 11 in 2000 in front of his residence at Sonadanga. His eldest son Arifur Rahman Mithu filed an FIR as complainant naming none as accused. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Criminal Investigation Department(CID), Khashrul Huq submitted a charge sheet as investigation officer(IO) on June 13 in 2001 naming 13 people as accused.

The chargesheeted accused are Saidur Rahman alias Khura Sayeed, Humayun Kabir alias Kana Babu, Rangulal Biswas, Rafiqul Islam alias Hitler, Shawkat alias Bitu, Wasiqur Rahman and his younger brother Mushfiqur Rahman, Shumon, Dulia Sultana alias Dolly, Abdur Rashid Malitha alias Tapan, Abdul Aziz alias Moin, Shumon-Al-Mamun, Shaheen, Motaleb and Ward Commissioner Golam Mowla Shanu.

Of them, the absconding chargesheeted accused are Purba Banglar Communist Party (Janajuddho) leader Tapan, Ward Commissioner Golam Mawla Shanu, Wasiqur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahman and Dulia Sultana alias Dolly. The lone accused now on bail is Shumon-Al-Mamun.

Meanwhile, complainant of the case Arifur Rahman Mithu and members of slain AL leader's family have expressed their sharp reaction for transferring the case to Rajshahi STT.

We feel insecure going to Rajshahi to appear in the court as absconding accused have been giving us death threats since the murder of my father, Mithu said.