Judge Mojibur Rahman of Dhaka’s Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal is expected to deliver the verdict around 12pm. Suspected Islamist militants hacked to death Avijit, the US-based Bangladeshi science writer and founder of the Muktomona blog, on Feb 26 in 2015 just after he left the Amar Ekushey Book Fair in Dhaka. The state has demanded maximum punishment for all the six accused, including fugitive sacked army major Syed Ziaul Haq alias Zia. The five other defendants are Safiur Rahman Farabi, Md Mozzammel Hussain alias Saimon alias Shahriar, Md Abu Siddiq Sohel alias Sakib alias Sajid alias Shahab, Md Arafat Rahman and Akram Hossain alias Abir. Seven people arrested at various times in connection with the murder have been exempted as sufficient evidence was not found to charge them.

Source: bd News24 February 15, 2021 19:07 UTC