The deposition of witnesses in the Farook Ahmed murder case has been deferred for the fourth time as the prime accused, Amanur Rahman Khan Rana, MP, was absent yesterday on medical grounds. The first district and sessions Judge of Tangail, Abul Monsur Mia, fixed February 11 as the next date of deposition.

Public prosecutor Monirul Islam Khan read a letter by Zahangir Kabir, senior jailor of Karanigonj Jail, that Rana was ill with several complications and undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical College.

Farook’s widow Nahar Ahmed, son Ahmed Majid and daughter Ferjana Ahmed were present as witnesses.

Anisul Islam Raja, Mohhammad Ali and Md Somir, other acuused currently in jail, were produced before the court. Masudur Rahman, Farid Ahmed and Nasir Uddin Nuru, the acccused who are out on bail, were also present.

Nahar Ahmed alleged that Rana was simply buying time influence the judgment process.

Earlier, even before the charges were framed, Rana was absent for eight times on the same plea.

Veteran freedom fighter and influential district AL leader, Farook Ahmed, was murdered on January 18, 2013. The case was handed over to the Detective Branch (DB). Police arrested Aminul Islam Raja and Mohammad Ali in connection with the murder. Both confessed to their involvement in the crime and

described the manner in which Farook was killed.

 The duo disclosed the names of four influential brothers of the Khan family who were involved in the murder.

They are: Alhaj Amanur Rahman Rana, MP of Tangail-3 (Ghatail) constituency and ex-religious affairs secretary of the district AL, Shahidur Rahman Khan Mukti, ex-mayor of Tangail municipality and secretary of the city AL, Zahidul Khan Kakon, ex-secretary general of the Tangail Bus, Minibus and Coach Owners’ Association and secretary of the Tangail Babosayee Oikya Jote, and Saniat Khan Bappa, former vice president of the central BCL and vice president of Government Sadat College.Mukti, Kakon and Bappa are now on the run.