Blogger Oyasiqur killing: court concludes recording statements of witnesses

A Dhaka court today concluded recording the statements of witnesses in connection with the killing of blogger Oyasiqur Rahman Babu in 2015.

Judge Md Rabiul Alam of Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka came up with the order after recording the statement of Recording Officer Md Salahuddin, the then officer-in-charge of Tejgoan Police Station.

The court also set September 10 for recording the self-defence statements of the accused in the murder case.

The court earlier recorded statements of 23 prosecution witnesses, including the investigation officer of the case.

Oyasiqur (27), was attacked by three cleaver-wielding youths in the capital's Tejgaon industrial area on March 30, 2015.

On September 1 of 2015, Mashiur Rahman, an inspector of Detective Branch of police and also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet against five people to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka, showing 40 people as prosecution witnesses.

A Dhaka court on July 20, 2016 framed charges against five members of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) in the case.

Of the accused, Zikrullah alias Hasan, Ariful Islam alias Mushfiq and Md Saiful Islam are now in jail while two others -- Akram Hossain Hasib alias Abdullah and Junayed alias Taher -- are on the run.