Dhaka court fixes October 27 for delivering verdict in blogger Oyasiqur murder case

A Dhaka court today fixed October 27 for delivering judgment in a case filed against five members of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) over the murder of blogger Oyasiqur Rahman Babu in 2015.

On completion of arguments both from the prosecution and the defence, Judge Md Rabiul Alam of Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka set the date for verdict delivery.

Of the accused, Zikrullah alias Hasan, Ariful Islam alias Mushfiq and Md Saiful Islam are now behind bars, while two others -- Akram Hossain Hasib alias Abdullah and Junayed alias Taher -- are on the run.

Earlier in the day, the prosecution concluded arguments and sought capital punishment for all five accused in the case.

On the other hand, defence told the court that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges against their clients and sought their acquittal.

The court recorded statements of 24 prosecution witnesses in the case.

Oyasiqur (27) was attacked by three cleaver-wielding youths in the capital's Tejgaon industrial area on March 30, 2015.

On September 1 of 2015, Mashiur Rahman, an inspector of Detective Branch of police, submitted the charge sheet against five people to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka, showing 40 people as prosecution witnesses.

The Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka framed charges against the five on July 20, 2016.