Manik Saha Murder Case
Journalists demand reinvestigation
Journalists here yesterday demanded reinvestigation into journalist Manik Saha murder case.
They also demanded immediate arrest of the masterminds behind the killing and trial of the killings of around 20 journalists, including Manik Saha, Humayun Kabir Balu, Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, in a special tribunal.
The demands were made at a discussion held at Khulna Press Club, marking the ninth death anniversary of Manik Saha, senior reporter of the Daily Sangbad and New Age.
Among others, Talukder Abdul Khaleque, mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) and secretary of city unit Awami League Mizanur Rahman Mizan, took part in the discussion with Mokbul Hossain Mintu, president of the press club, in the chair.
Earlier on the day, different socio-cultural organisations, Manik Saha Smrity Parishad, Khulna city unit of AL, CPB and Khulna Union of Journalists (KUJ) placed wreaths at the monument built on the press club premises in memory of the slain journalists.
Manik Saha, also the former president of the press club, was killed in a bomb attack in front of the press club in Choto Mirzapur area on January 15, 2004.
The following day, the then sub-inspector Ranjit Kumar Das of Khulna Police Station filed two cases without mentioning anyone's name as accused.
On March 19 in 2004, SI Asaduzzaman of the Detective Branch of KMP submitted a charge sheet in a case filed under the Explosive Substances Act to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, accusing ten people.
Mosharraf Hossain, the then officer in-charge of Khulna Police Station, submitted another charge sheet in the murder case to the CMM Court on June 20 the same year, accusing five people.
Later, the case was transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal in Khulna. Judge of the tribunal asked the DB to reinvestigate the cases following a petition filed by prosecution lawyer Abu Zafar.
As per directive, the then DB inspector Chitta Ranjan Pal submitted a supplementary charge sheet in the murder case on December 2 in 2007, accusing six people.
Contacted, Public Prosecutor Kazi Abu Shaheen said the trial of Manik Saha murder case is being delayed as Magistrate Dewan Abdus Samad, prime prosecution witness of the case, is yet to appear before the court for giving his statement despite issuing summons several times.
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