Syed Shemul Parvez :
The quest for justice in the sensational murder of Jubo League leader Riazul Haque Khan Milky drags on, with the trial failing to reach a verdict even after a staggering 11 years. The 2013 incident that rocked Dhaka’s Gulshan area remains shrouded in unresolved complexity.
Sources reveal a sluggish trial process, hampered by the reluctance of prosecution witnesses to testify. Fear of reprisal is suspected to be a key factor in their non-appearance. Despite the court issuing summons and scheduling testimonies, only a meagre five witnesses have come forward in the past five years.
The trial initially faced delays in the Dhaka 5th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court. It was later transferred to the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2, hoping to expedite the process. However, even with government intervention two years ago, the situation remains unchanged.
Currently, four of the accused remain at large, while the others are out on bail. Prosecutor Sadia Afrin Shilpi acknowledges the challenges in securing witness testimony but expresses determination to complete the trial. She emphasises the importance of achieving a swift resolution, particularly given the alleged involvement of influential figures.
Sirajul Haque Faisal, the lawyer for the accused, said, “The case is at the evidence stage. Though the witness session started more than a year ago, most of the witnesses are not coming.
The defence claims that 18 people initially named as accused are no longer involved in the case. They allege that only a core group of 3 or 4 individuals were truly responsible for the incident. Furthermore, the defence suggests that most of the accused are facing charges due to political harassment.
Despite these claims, the defence emphasises their desire for a swift conclusion to the trial. They advocate for the punishment of the guilty and the acquittal of the innocent.
The case centres around the 2013 murder of Riazul Haque Khan Milky, a prominent Jubo League leader, in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. The initial complaint named 11 individuals, including Milky’s former associate, Zahid Siddiki Tarek.
An investigation into closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage reportedly revealed that Tarek, accompanied by hired gunmen, orchestrated the murder due to alleged disputes regarding politics and extortion.
Tarek himself was later found dead in a purported “gunfight” with law enforcement officials.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). However, the CID’s charge sheet faced a no-confidence petition from the plaintiff, leading to a supplementary charge sheet naming a total of 18 accused and listing 75 witnesses.
After that, the court took around five years to indict the accused and commence the trial. However, due to some legal complexities, the hearing progressed very slowly.
On March 21, 2022, the Law Ministry ordered the transfer of the case to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 of Judge Jasmin Ara Begum for quick disposal. Since then, the tribunal has recorded the testimony of the fifth witness and fixed May 29 for the next hearing.
The 18 accused in the charge sheet of the case are: Md. Sakhawat Hossain Chanchal, Fahima Islam Lopa, Sharif Uddin Chowdhury alias Pappu, Syed Mujtaba Ali Prakash Rumi, Aminul Islam alias Habib, Sohail Mahmud alias Sohail Bhuiyan, Chunnu Mia, Arif alias Arif Hossain, Sahidul Islam, Ibrahim Khalilullah, Jahangir Mandal, Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, Tuhin Rahman Fahim, Mohammad Rashed Mahmud alias Ali Hossain Rashed alias Mahmud, Saidul Islam alias Nuruzzaman, Sujan Howladar, Dr. Dewan Md. Faryuddaula alias Pappu, and Mamun ur Rashid.
On the other hand, four of the accused are on the run, and the rest 14 are currently on bail.
