Court appoints defence lawyer

A Rangpur court yesterday appointed a defence counsel for accused Snigdha Bhowmik and Kamrul Islam after all lawyers refused to represent the duo in Rathish Chandra Bhowmik murder case.

After the hearing, Judge ABM Nizamul Haque of district and session judge court appointed Advocate Basunia Md Ariful Islam as the defence lawyer and set October 15 for the next hearing.

The hearing began yesterday after Sub-inspector (SI) of Rangpur Police Station Al Amin filed the charge sheet against the duo on September 13.

On September 26, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Arifa Yasmin accepted the charge sheet and referred the case to district and session judge’s court.

Earlier, Snigdha and Kamrul confessed to the court that they were involved in an affair.

On March 29, they killed Rathish, a special public prosecutor and a local Awami League leader.

On April 6, Sushanta Bhowmik, younger brother of the deceased filed a murder case with Rangpur Sadar Police Station accusing 5 persons including the duo.

Of them, accused Milon Mohanta died at Rangpur jail while two others were dropped from charge sheet.