Piren Slan was shot dead and at least 25 indigenous people including women and children were bullet-hit on January 3 last year when police and forest guards opened fire on demonstrators protesting creation of an Eco Park in Modhupur forests.

On January 14 last year, Piren's father Nezendra Nokrek filed a murder case with a Magistrate court in Tangail, accusing nine people including Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abu Hanif Patowari and Modhupur thana Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abu Zafar Alam.

The court directed a First Class Magistrate Moklesur Rahman to probe the incident. The Magistrate submitted a report on August 26 after recording statements of 16 witnesses.

The report said, "Involvement of officials and employees of police and forest department in the killing is not proved".

On November 17, as the case was taken up by the court, Piren's father submitted a 'naraji' petition against the probe report. The court accepted the 'naraji' petition on the same day and fixed December 27 for hearing. But the hearing was not held on that day.

Since then, the court fixed five dates (March 30, May 10, June 25, August 30, November 14) for 'more' hearing. The court on November 14 fixed January 4 for 'more' hearing.

Talking tom this correspondent, Advocate Abdul Karim Miah, Tangail District Coordinator of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), said there is no instance of so lengthy hearing on a 'naraji' petition.

Indigenous people in Modhupur have taken up programmes to observe the 2nd death anniversary of Piren Slan today. These include placing of wreaths at his grave, mourning procession and a memorial meeting at the gravesite.