Journalists and other socio-cultural and political organisations in Khulna City on Monday observed the 20th death anniversary of eminent journalist Manik Saha and urged the authorities concerned to unearth the masterminds behind his killing and ensure capital punishment to the culprits.
"We were not satisfied with the verdict of journalist Manik Saha murder case that was declared by Khulna Speedy Trial Tribunal on November 30, 2016," speakers told a commemoration meeting held coinciding with the death anniversary of Saha, who was killed in a bomb attack on January 15 in 2004 near the Khulna Press Club (KPC). They also noted with sorrow that at least 25 newsmen including Humayun Kabir Balu were killed in the region over the past two decades but most of the masterminds and assassins still remain beyond the reach of justice.
Mr Shaha was a senior reporter of the Bangla daily Sangbad. He also worked for the New Age, Ekushey TV and BBC radio.
Chaired by president of Khulna Press Club S M Nazrul Islam, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Mokbul Hossain Mintu, Faruk Ahmed, Mallick
Shudhanshu, Rakib Uddin Pannu and Mahbubur Rahman Munna.
The speakers earlier placed wreaths at a monument built on the KPC premises in memory of the slain journalists.
Different organisations including Manik Saha Smrity Parisad, district unit of ruling Awami League, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Udichi, Khulna
Union of Journalists (KUJ), Swadhinata Sangbadik Forum, Ratan Sen Public Library also paid rich tributes to his memory while Chhatra Union of Khulna unit staged a candlelight vigil at the memorial.
Immediately after the murder police filed two cases-- one under Explosives Act, accusing ‘anonymous killers’ for the assassination and after investigations police submitted the charge sheet in the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate naming 13 suspects on December 12, 2008.
On November 30, 2016, Khulna Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced nine outlaws of banned Biplobi (Janajuddha) and Purba Banglar Communist Party to life-term imprisonment and acquitted two outlaws of Manik Saha killing case.
