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Published : 30 Mar 2026, 11:20 AM
The family of blogger Washiqur Rahman Babu, who was hacked to death in Tejgaon’s Begunbari area, is still awaiting justice for his 2015 murder.
Those involved in the 11-year-old case cannot say when a verdict is expected.
Meanwhile, defence attorneys are petitioning for the detained suspects to be released, claiming the “case has no future”.
Washiqur, who spoke out against religious bigotry on various online platforms, including Facebook, was hacked to death in a machete attack in Tejgaon on his way to work on Mar 30, 2015.
Soon after the murder, the police reported the arrest of two people, Ariful and Zikarullah, at the scene.
Washiqur's brother-in-law, Monir Hossain Masud, filed a case with the Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station over the incident. On Sept 1, 2015, Inspector Mashiur Rahman of the police's Detective Branch (DB) filed a chargesheet in the court accusing five people.
On Jul 20 of the following year, the then judge of the Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, SM Ziaur Rahman, ordered the case to trial.
The trial concluded after four and a half years, with the court setting Oct 27, 2020, for the verdict. Then, some errors were found in the framing of the charges. The charges in the case then had to be reframed.
Meanwhile, the case was transferred to the court of the Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge. Since then, there hasn’t been any significant progress in the case.
The state has not been able to produce witnesses in the case despite issuing non-bailable arrest warrants.
As witnesses have not appeared, the state petitioned for the conclusion of the prosecution’s testimony. In view of that request, Judge Bulbul Islam concluded the testimony on Sept 25 last year and set a date for the defence hearing.
That defence hearing has not been held, though six different dates have been set. The latest date was on Sunday. However, the defendants petitioned for more time.
The court granted the request and set the next hearing for May 10, according to Rahimul Karim Himel, the bench assistant for the court.
Washiqur’s father, Tipu Sultan, is nearly 80 years old. Of his three children, his eldest son had died in the 90s.
His wife died in 1995. Then, 11 years ago, he lost his only remaining son. His daughter married into a family from their ancestral home in Lakshmipur’s Ramganj Upazila. His daughter looks after him.
Tipu said that the family income comes from selling coconuts and betel nuts.
Contacted on his phone, Tipu said: “My children lost their mother when they were young. I raised them by myself. Washiqur got admission to Dhaka. I wanted him to grow up to be a proper human being. Someone who was established. They killed my son.”
“It has been 11 years, but we have not received justice. I want justice. I am old. I want the killers of my son to be brought to justice before I die. If justice is served, I will have some peace.”
In response to a question, he said: “My son prayed five times a day. He read the Quran and went to the mosque. Why did they kill him? A new government has come in. They should complete the case quickly.”
Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor (PP) Omar Faruq Faruqi said, "The previous 'fascist' government did not take proper care in the trial of these cases. They were busy with false political cases. The current government is working to ensure these cases are tried. A list of such cases has already been made. I hope that the trial of this case will be completed soon."
Citing those arrested in the incident, the police said that Washiqur was killed for “hurting religious sentiments”.
The accused in the case are Zikarullah alias Hasan, Ariful Islam alias Mushfiq alias Erfan, Saiful Islam alias Mansur, Maulana Junaid Ahmed alias Taher, and Saiful Islam alias Abdullah.
Among the accused, Junaid and Abdullah have been absconding since the case was filed. The other accused are out on bail.
Zikarullah and Arif's lawyer, Abdur Rashid Molla, said, "The case reached the verdict stage under the Awami League government, but they had nothing to convict the accused, and they had to be acquitted. The government put pressure on the court. Charges were framed under new sections."
He said, "This case has no future. If a verdict had been delivered at that time, the case would have been settled in the High Court, and the accused would have been acquitted. The suspects were forced to give confessional statements.
“They used to trap madrasa students and members of the general public and frame them as militants. There is no future for this case. The incident happened, but the real culprits were not brought to book.”
This lawyer claimed, “Zikrullah and Arif were not caught at the scene of the incident. They were detained from their homes and framed in this case. I hope they will be acquitted and receive justice.”
Washiqur was working as a trainee officer at a travel agency called “Far East Aviation” in Motijheel. He was also pursuing his post-graduation education at Government Titumir College.
He lived in a room with his father Tipu in Begunbari as part of a sublet.
Tipu said that the plaintiff in the case, Washiqur’s brother-in-law Masud, is an Italian expatriate. He has not testified in court in connection with the case.
