Reprobe into journo Manik Shaha murder demanded

The journalists and well-wishers of slain noted journalist, rights activist and freedom fighter Manik Shaha have urged the government to take initiatives to ensure capital punishment to the real culprits behind the murder, reports UNB. They made the demand on Thursday in a letter sent to Attorney General seeking justice through reinvestigation, identifying the planners, financers, patrons and professional killers of the murder.

The demand for justice to Manik Shaha came four days before his 14th death anniversary (January 15). The letter signed by ptbnews.com chief editor Ashis Kumar Dey, on behalf of the “Sangbadik Manik Shah Hatyar Bicharprarthi Sangkhubdha Sangbadik Samaj” was sent by registry post to the Attorney General on January 11, 2018 while copies of the letter was also sent to Prime Minister, Law Minister, Home Minister, President's secretary and registrar of High Court division of the Supreme Court, says a press release on Saturday evening.

The letter said that the November 30, 2016 verdict handed down by Khulna speedy tribunal judge punishing nine people to life-term imprisonment was based on imprudent investigation and flawed charge sheet.

According to the letter, charge sheet, filed before the court, prepared by Khulna police identified 13 people mostly from the then two rival groups of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party, but did not include the planners, financers and patrons of the murder.

“We urge for the prosecution appeal to the higher court against the verdict and reinvestigation to give capital punishment to the professional killers and identify the planners, financers and patrons of the murder,” the letter said.

Manik Shaha, a stringer of BBC Bangla Service and senior reporter of daily New Age and the Dainik Sangbad, was bombed to death at noon on January 15 in 2004 at Chhota Mirzapur, a few yards off Khulna Press Club in Khulna city.

Posthumously awarded Ekushey Padak, Manik Saha, was also the Khulna chapter president of Amnesty International and president of Khulna Press Club.

Reprobe into journo Manik Shaha murder demanded

The journalists and well-wishers of slain noted journalist, rights activist and freedom fighter Manik Shaha have urged the government to take initiatives to ensure capital punishment to the real culprits behind the murder, reports UNB. They made the demand on Thursday in a letter sent to Attorney General seeking justice through reinvestigation, identifying the planners, financers, patrons and professional killers of the murder. The demand for justice to Manik Shaha came four days before his 14th death anniversary (January 15). The letter signed by ptbnews.com chief editor Ashis Kumar Dey, on behalf of the Sangbadik Manik Shah Hatyar Bicharprarthi Sangkhubdha Sangbadik Samaj was sent by registry post to the Attorney General on January 11, 2018 while copies of the letter was also sent to Prime Minister, Law Minister, Home Minister, Presidents secretary and registrar of High Court division of the Supreme Court, says a press release on Saturday evening. The letter said that the November 30, 2016 verdict handed down by Khulna speedy tribunal judge punishing nine people to life-term imprisonment was based on imprudent investigation and flawed charge sheet. According to the letter, charge sheet, filed before the court, prepared by Khulna police identified 13 people mostly from the then two rival groups of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party, but did not include the planners, financers and patrons of the murder. We urge for the prosecution appeal to the higher court against the verdict and reinvestigation to give capital punishment to the professional killers and identify the planners, financers and patrons of the murder, the letter said. Manik Shaha, a stringer of BBC Bangla Service and senior reporter of daily New Age and the Dainik Sangbad, was bombed to death at noon on January 15 in 2004 at Chhota Mirzapur, a few yards off Khulna Press Club in Khulna city. Posthumously awarded Ekushey Padak, Manik Saha, was also the Khulna chapter president of Amnesty International and president of Khulna Press Club.