Trial deferred again in absence of witnesses

A Sylhet court yesterday deferred witnesses' deposition for the case filed over murder of blogger and science writer Ananta Bijoy Das, as no witness appeared.

Md Nurul Amin Biplab, judge of Anti-terrorism Special Tribunal in Sylhet, set November 22 as the new date for deposition, said Mohammad Monir Uddin, a lawyer of the plaintiff.

He said, "So far, 20 witnesses' testimonies were recorded out of 29. But two key witnesses remain absent, even after repeated summonses by the court."

The two witnesses are the case's investigating officer and police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Inspector Arman Ali and IT Forensic unit's sub-inspector Masud Siddiky.

Earlier on October 26, the witnesses' deposition was deferred too. Testimony of the last witness was recorded on October 12.

Ananta was killed on the morning of May 12, 2015 at Subidbazar area, near his residence, in Sylhet. Banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team claimed responsibility for the murder.

Ananta's brother Ratneswa Das had filed a murder case that day, and the investigation was later handed over to CID.

On October 18, 2016, CID Inspector Arman Ali pressed a charge sheet, which the court rejected. A supplementary charge sheet was later filed on May 9, 2017.

The  accused are Shafiur Rahman Farabi, Mannan Yahya  alias Mannan Rahi, Abul Khaer Rashid Ahmed, Abul Hossain alias Abul  Hussain, Harunur Rashid and Faisal Ahmed.

Among them, Farabi and  Abul Khaer are now in jail. Mannan died on November 2, 2017, after he  fell ill at Dhaka Central Jail. The other three accused are on the run.