Bangladesh: Trial in retired army major Sinha murder case begins

Sinha Md Rashed Khan

Slain retired army major Sinha Md Rashed Khan’s sister Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous on Sunday testified that then Baharchhara investigation centre in-charge Liaqat Ali on instruction of then Teknaf Police Station officer-in-charge Pradeep Kumar Das shot Sinha to death on July 31, 2020.

She made the testimony before the Cox’s Bazar Sessions Judge’s Court as the first prosecution witness and the complainant as the formal trial in the murder case began.

Sharmin said that after talking to the eyewitnesses and collecting information, she filed the case on August 5, 2020.

Cox’s Bazar session judge Mohammad Ismail recorded her testimony and 12 the defence counsel for 12 of the 15 accused people cross-examined the complainant.

The defence lawyers of the rest three accused people are scheduled to cross-examine her today and Wednesday.

Fifteen of the 83 prosecution witnesses have been asked to appear before the court to testify the murder in the first phase, said the district court public prosecutor Faridul Alam.

On December 13, 2020, the Rapid Action Battalion submitted the charge sheet gainst the 15 — Pradeep, Liyakat, then Teknaf police sub-inspector Nanda Dulal Rakshit, constables Rubel Sharma and Sagar Dev, then Baharchhara police investigation centre assistant sub-inspector Liton Mia and constables Safanur Karim, Kamal Hossain and Abdullah Al Mamun, then Cox’s Bazar-based Armed Police Battalion sub-inspector Shahjahan and constables Rajib and Abdullah and three villagers Nurul Amin, Nizam Uddin, and Ayas Uddin.

The charge sheet stated that Pradeep had plotted the murder nearly two weeks ago.

The battalion said that the three villagers were police informers and took part in the Sinha murder plot.

Of the 15 suspects, Sagar Dev remains absconding while the rest are in jail in Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram.  All the police members were suspended following their arrest.