Another PW gives deposition in Patradut editor murder case

Ala Uddin

Statement of another prosecution witness (PW) in the daily Patradut editor SM Ala Uddin murder case was recorded yesterday.
Advocate Abul Kalam Azad, one of the 38 PWs, gave his deposition in presence of all other accused in the court.
Judge Obaidus Sobhan of Satkhira District and Sessions Judge's court recorded the deposition and fixed September 23 for recording the statement of other PWs in the case.
Earlier the court on July 14 recorded the statement of Abdur Razzak resuming the case after 15 years of the gruesome murder.
The court on July 18 took the statement of another PW Anisur Rahim.
Patradut editor SM Ala Uddin was shot dead by the assailants while discharging his professional duties at the office of the daily in Pransayer area in the town on June 19 in 1996.
Police arrested Awami Jubo League activist and alleged member of the killing squad Saiful Islam after five days of the incident who later disclosed the names of the other culprits.
The investigation officer (IO) submitted charge sheet in a magistrate's court in Satkhira town pressing charges against 10 people on May 5 in 1997.
The charge sheeted accused are Abdus Sabur, Khalilullah Jhharu, Saifullah Kislu, Momin Ullah Mohon, Abdur Rouf, Abul Kalam, Eskandar Mirza, Atiar Rahman, Saiful Islam and Safiur Rahman.
The trial was delayed as of five accused submitted a petition to the High Court seeking quashment. The High Court accepted the petitioners' prayer and quashed the case in 1998.
On appeal from the government, the Supreme Court rejected the quashment order of the HC and asked the lower court to resume the trial on March 11 in 1999.
Later accused Khalilullah Jhharu and Abdus Sabur submitted a petition to a bench of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court with a prayer to shift the trial court from Satkhira to any other place in the country. After hearing the High Court's Division bench rejected the prayer on November 7 in 2007.
Later they submitted a leave to appeal petition with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the HC order.
On July 26 in 2009, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court also rejected the prayer the copy which reached the Judge's court on September 30 in 2010.