Mohib Ullah murder case: Witness gets death threat in courtroom

A witness of the Rohingya community leader Mohammad Mohib Ullah murder case was threatened with murder in a silent finger across the throat gesture during a court proceeding in Cox's Bazar today (November 1, 2022).

The witness, Noor Alam, a member of Rohingya community, was threatened by an accused standing on the dock of the court, reports our Cox's Bazar correspondent quoting Faridul Alam, public prosecutor (PP) of the court.

The incident took place when Noor was giving his deposition before the court of Abdullah Al Mamun, additional district and sessions judge of Cox's Bazar, said the PP.

However, the public prosecutor did not disclose the name of the accused who issued the threat.

The matter has been brought before the court, Faridul said.

Law enforcers are also aware of the incident, and their cooperation was sought to ensure safety of the witnesses, he added.

Today, Noor and another Rohingya community leader Hamid Majhi gave their deposition before the court, the public prosecutor said.  Both of them detailed what they witnessed on that fateful day.

They described who they saw, and who opened fire, Faridul informed.

The lawyers of the defendants also cross-examined the witnesses, he added. 

Yesterday, Habibullah, brother of the slain Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah and also the plaintiff of the case gave his deposition before the same court.

On September 29 last year, around 19 armed assailants appeared in Mohib Ullah's office with firearms and shot him dead at Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhiya.

Nineteen men were involved in the killing and they executed their plan in less than two minutes. Five of the suspects had firearms.

Soon after the murder, Mohib's brother Habib Ullah claimed that Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), locally known as Al-Yakin, was behind the assassination.

On June 13, police pressed charges against 29 Rohingyas in the case filed over the grisly murder without mentioning ARSA.

The charge sheet also revealed that the Rohingya leader was murdered by an armed group for his popularity in the displaced community and for being vocal against crimes and irregularities inside Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar.