Matiur is brother of the slain Ahsanullah Master as well as the first prosecution witness in the case.

Judge Shahed Noor Uddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 recorded statement of the witness for an hour. Later, he was cross-examined on some points on behalf of Nurul Islam Sarker, the mastermind in the killing.

The court adjourned the hearing till November 8. Matiur will be cross-examined again on that day.

In his deposition, Matiur gave a detailed description about the incident and the place where his brother was killed.

He said that his brother Ahsanullah Master MP was very popular in Tongi and Gazipur for his active role against the drug business and the criminals.

As his brother protested the drug business, he (Ahsanullah) was killed by Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal leader Nurul Islam Sarker and his accomplices, the witness said.

Soon after the incident, Chhatra Samaj leader Nurul Islam Dipu and his brother Shahidul Islam Shipu got down from Nurul Islam Sarker's private car, standing in front of the Saha Market where Sarker pat them on their backs. After a while, Sarker went towards the west by his private car while Dipu and Shipu towards the north, Matiur told the court quoting some locals.

Mohammad Ali, another accused in the case, supplied the arms that were used to kill Ahsanullah Master and injure others at the place of occurrence, he said.

A visibly emotional and often sobbing, Matiur said Dipu, Ohidul Islam Tipu, Kana Hafiz, Anwar Hossain Anu, Faisal, Sohag, Lokman Hossain alias Bulu, Al Amin, Boro Ratan, Roni Miah, Syed Ahmed Majnu, Mahabubur Rahman, Amir, Chhoto Zahangir, Monir, Dulal, Boro Zahangir, Khokan, Salam, Chhoto Ratan and Moshiur Rahman alias Moshu shot his brother at about 12:35pm on May 7 when he (Ahsanullah) was getting down from the stage.

His brother collapsed on the ground and was taken to Tongi Hospital. He was shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) as his condition deteriorated where the on duty doctors declared him dead, the witness said.

The 12 accused present in the dock are Nurul Islam Sarker, Rakibuddin Sarker alias Pappu, Boro Zahangir, Amir, Zahangir, Mohammad Ali, Nurul Amin alias Amin, Ayub Ali, Mahabubur Rahman, Monir Hossain, Dulal and Kabir Hossain. Of them, Kabir is on bail, while the rest are now in the custody.

Dipu and 17 others are still at large.

Special Public Prosecutor Abdul Latif Talukder and advocates Mahbub Ahmed, Sahara Khatun, M Sajwar Hossain, Mohammad Ali, Kamrul Islam and Abdur Rahman Howlader appeared for the state.