Blogger Oyasiqur Murder Case: Verdict on Oct 27

A Dhaka court yesterday set October 27 for delivering judgment in a case filed against five members of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) over the murder of blogger Oyasiqur Rahman Babu murder in 2015.

Judge Md Rabiul Alam of Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka set the date after defence lawyers completed arguments, assistant public prosecutor Md Salahuddin Howlader confirmed to The Daily Star.

Defence told the court the prosecution has failed to prove charges brought against their clients and sought acquittal.

The prosecution on September 21 completed arguments and sought capital punishment for all accused. Twenty-four prosecution witnesses out of 40 gave their depositions before the court so far in the case.

Oyasiqur (27) was attacked by three cleaver-wielding youths in the capital's Tejgaon industrial area on March 30, 2015. Monir Hossain, brother-in-law of the victim, filed a murder case with Tejgaon Industrial Police Station.

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

The Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka framed charges against five ABT members on July 20, 2016. Of the accused, Zikrullah alias Hasan, Ariful Islam alias Mushfiq and Md Saiful Islam are now behind bars, while two others -- Akram Hossain Hasib alias Abdullah and Junayed alias Taher -- are on the run.