Humayun Azad case trial in limbo 12 years on

The trial of the case over writer Humayun Azad’s murder is yet to see conclusion after 12 years.

The legendary writer and professor of Bangla literature at Dhaka University was hacked on Feb 27, 2004 on the campus when he was returning from the Amar Ekushey Book Fair.

Azad, a linguist, went to Germany for research in August that year after treatment. He was found dead in his flat in Munich on Aug 12.

His brother Manjur Kabir had filed an attempt to murder case, which was later turned into a murder case after further investigation.

His daughter Mouli Azad told bdnews24.com on Saturday, “We have been waiting for the punishment of the murderers for long. Now we want a speedy conclusion to the case.”

Writers, publishers and readers organised a human chain on the Bangla Academy premises on Saturday to press for the same demand.

Criminal Investigation Department named five Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh members in the chargesheet.

The accused are Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Minhaz alias Shafique alias Shaon alias Hamim alias Hashim, Anwarul Alam alias Bhagne Shahid, Nur Mohammad Shamim alias JM Mobin alias Sabu, Salehin alias Salahuddin alias Sajib alias Tawhid and Hafez Mahmud alias Rakib alias Rasel.

Bhagne Shahid and Hafez Mahmud are in jail while Nur Mohammad Shamim is on the run.

Miscreants had taken Salehin and Mizanur Rahman away after attacking a prison van on Feb 23, 2014.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee, a war criminal who condemned Azad in his lectures for his works against fundamentalism, was also named in the case.

His name was later dropped.

The government put the case in a list of 10 cases for speedy trial, but the recording of witnesses’ depositions is not finished yet.

Dhaka’s Fourth Metropolitan Sessions Judge Ruhul Amin’s court is hearing the case.

Retired CID inspector Kazi Abdul Malek, who had investigated the case, has started to give his statement again, leading to more delay.

He gave a statement on Feb 25, and is scheduled to do so again on Feb 29.