First witness testifies in Kibria murder case

The Sylhet Speedy Trial Tribunal Wednesday started recording deposition of the prosecution witnesses in the case for killing of former Finance Minister SAMS Kibria and 4 others.
Complainant of the sensational case General Secretary of Habiganj district AL Abdul Mazid Khan, also a lawmaker, now gave his deposition for about 2 and half an hours till 2:30 pm, court sources informed.
The tribunal would record the deposition of a total of 171 prosecution witnesses, informed the Special Prosecutor of the tribunal Kishore Kumar Kar adding, the next deposition would be recorded on October 21 and 22, as the judge set it.
Among the accused former State Minister for Home Lutfuzzaman Babar and others were present while suspended Sylhet City mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury couldn’t be produced before the court due to illness.
The Tribunal on 13 September framed charges against Lutfuzzaman Babar, Sylhet City Mayor (suspended) Ariful, outlawed Huji, B kingpin Mufti Abdul Hannan, Habiganj pourashava mayor GK Gaus and 28 others in the case.
Earlier it had to be deferred 9 times due to the absence of some key accused for their illness.
Abul Harris Chowdhury, former political secretary to the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, had been shown absconding in the case.
The SCC Mayor and Habiganj Mayor were suspended in January this year after their being indicted in the case.
Kibria and 4 others were killed in a grenade attack on 27 January of 2005 evening after a rally of AL at Baidderbazar government primary School in Habiganj sadar upazila.
The then organising Secretary of Habiganj district AL Abdul Mazid Khan (now lawmaker) filed 2 cases, one for murder and the other for explosive substances.