A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against 10 people accused in the journalist Gautam Das murder case.
Faridpur bureau chief of Dainik Samakal Gautam Das, 30, was brutally killed on November 17 last year.
Judge Shahed Noor Uddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 framed the charges where six out of the 10 accused were present. He fixed August 22 for trial of the case.
The charge-sheeted accused are Asif Imtiaz Bulu, Kazi Murad, Zahid, Kamrul Islam Apon, Asad Bin Kadir, Siddiqur Rahman, Tamzid Hossain Babu, Rajib Hassan Miah, Asif Imran and Abu Taher Mohammad Mortuza Ahsan also know as Appollo Biswas.
Of them, Asif Imtiaz Bulu, Kazi Murad, Zahid and Kamrul Islam Apon are still at large while the remaining six are now on bail.
The six accused, who were present in the court yesterday, pleaded not guilty and demanded justice before the judge after the charges were read out to them. Charges were framed against the four absconding accused in absentia and the trial will continue in their absence.
Dainik Samakal correspondent of Faridpur Hasanuzzaman filed the murder case with Faridpur Police Station without mentioning any names of the killers on November 18 last year.
The investigation officer (IO) pressed charges against 10 people on January 19, showing 31 people as prosecution witnesses.
Three of the accused, Asad, Tanzim and Appollo Biswas, had given confessional statements to first class magistrates at different dates during the investigation of the case. Earlier, the case was transferred to the trial for its quick disposal.
