Last month the order was passed after over 11 years of the gruesome murder.

The editor was shot dead by assailants while discharging his professional duties at his Pransayer office here on June 19, 1996.

The murder sparked protest from people of all walks of life. They brought out processions and held rallies demanding arrest and punishment to the killers.

Awami Jubo League activist, also a member of the killing squad Saiful Islam was arrested after five days of the incident. Following his confessional statement, police recovered a cut rifle was used in the murder from a pond at Sultanpur here on June 25.

Saiful also disclosed names of the killers. They are Abdus Sabur, Khalilullah Jhharu, Saifullah Kislu, Momin Ullah Mohon, Abdur Rouf, Abul Kalam, Eskendar Mirza, Atiar Rahman and Safiur Rahman.

The case was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for investigation. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Iqbal Hossain of CID Khulna zone submitted charge sheet with a magistrate's court here as investigation officer (IO) of the case. Charges were pressed against 10 accused on May 5, 1997. The accused are Abdus Sabur, Khalilullah Jhharu, Saifullah Kislu, Momin Ullah Mohon, Abdur Rouf, Abul Kalam, Eskendar Mirza, Atiar Rahman, Saiful Islam and Safiur Rahman.

Of them, five accused named Saifullah Kislu, Abdur Rouf, Momin Ullah Mohon and Saiful Islam have been detained in jail while five other accused Eskendar Mirza, Atiar Rahman, Safiur Rahman, Abdus Sabur, Khalilullah Jhharu and Abul Kalam are absconding.

The trial was delayed because five of the accused submitted a petition to the High Court (HC) seeking quashment. The HC accepted the petitioners' prayer and quashed the case in 1998. Since then trial of the case remained suspended. on appeal from govt, the Supreme Court rejected the quahment order of the High Court and the trial resumed after 11 years.