Staff-Reporter: The verdict in the murder case of writer Abhijit Roy will be delidereded on February 16.

Judge Mojibur Rahman of the Dhaka Special Anti-Terrorism Tribunal set the date for the verdict in the case on Thursday (February 4th) after hearing arguments from both sides.

The state is expecting the death penalty for six accused, including Major(Dismissed) Syed Ziaul Haque Zia. Prosecutor Golam Sarwar Khan Zakir demanded the capital punishment on Wednesday (February 3rd) while presenting arguments in Mojibur Rahman's court.

After presenting the arguments of the state on that day, the defendants started presenting their arguments. However, as it was not over, the rest of the arguments were scheduled to be presented on Thursday. Later, the judge fixed February 18 for verdict in the case.

The accused in the case are: Major Syed Ziaul Haque Zia, Akram Hossain alias Hasib alias Abir alias Adnan alias Abdullah, Abu Siddique Sohail, Mozammel Hussain alias Simon, Arafat Rahman Sajjad alias Shams and Shafiur Rahman Farabi. Major Zia and Akram Hossain are still at large. The other four accused are in jail.

On January 26, the four accused in jail pleaded not guilty in the defense hearing.

Abhijit Roy, writer-blogger came to Bangladesh from The USA on February 26, 2015 to attend Amar Ekushey Book Fair. On the same night, on their way back from the book fair, miscreants attacked Abhijit and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya in front of TSC in Dhaka University area. Abhijit was hacked and seriously injured. He died on the spot. Rafida was seriously injured.

Abhijit's father Professor Ajay Roy filed a murder case with Shahbagh Police Station over the incident.

Dhaka Special Anti-Terrorism Tribunal Judge Mojibur Rahman accepted the charge sheet against the six accused,on April 11 2019.

Sun News