Nine get life for murder of Khulna journalist Manik Saha

A court has sentenced nine people to life imprisonment for the murder of Khulna journalist Manik Chandra Saha.

Journalist Manik Chandra Saha Journalist Manik Chandra Saha

Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge MA Rab Howlader on Wednesday delivered the verdict in the murder that happened 12 years ago.

Two have been acquitted of the charges.

The judge has let off the ten accused another case filed over the killing under the Explosives Act.

Journalist Manik Chandra Saha

On Jan 15, 2004, Manik Saha was killed in a bomb attack near the Khulna Press Club.

The Ekushey Padak winner journalist was the correspondent for the Daily Sangbad and the BBC Bangla. He had also served as the press club’s president.

Police had pressed charges on 11 persons over the killing.

Prosecutor Enamul Haque said that four of the nine, those who have been convicted, were on the docks. They are Nuruzzaman Suman, Ali Akbar alias Shaon, ‘Bulbul’ alias Bulu and ‘Akram’ alias Bomaru Akram.

The five others, who are absconding are ‘Sattar’ alias Disco Sattar, ‘Shakhawat’ alias Saka, ‘Sorowar’ alias Soro and ‘Mitthun.’

The court acquitted Abdul Hai Islam, who was produced in court by police on Wednesday, and fugitive Omar Faruk.

The victim’s family said they were not satisfied with verdict.

“We hoped for maximum punishment. The mastermind and those who financed the killing have not been convicted,” victim’s brother Pradip Saha told reporters.

Defence counsel Mamunur Rashid said they would challenge the verdict in the High Court.

Apart from Abdul Hai Islam, the ten others who had been accused of the murder, were also named in the explosives case. The court acquitted all of them in that case.