Satkhira Correspondent
A human chain was held in Satkhira on Saturday, demanding the arrest of all remaining accused in the murder case of college student Zakaria. The organisers gave police one week to arrest them, warning of a stronger movement with local residents if the demand was not met.
The programme was held at New Market intersection at noon, organised by the Zakaria Murder Trial Implementation Committee, with people from different walks of life taking part.
The human chain was presided over by committee adviser Advocate Azad Hossain Belal and conducted by its member-secretary, Sheikh Masum Billah Shaheen. Speakers included committee leaders, lawyers, student representatives and labour leaders.
The speakers expressed frustration that all the accused had not been arrested nearly a week and a half after the murder. Although the prime accused, Nahid, had been arrested, others remained at large, they said, demanding that all those involved be brought to justice without delay. They warned of stronger street protests if the remaining accused were not arrested within a week.
At around 11:30pm on Friday, October 2, Zakaria was stabbed during a dispute in front of a tea stall beside the main gate of the Office of the Livestock Officer in Satkhira town.
The dispute involved Bappi Hasan, nephew of tea stall owner Robiul Islam, and several teenagers, including Nahid, described as a member of a teenage gang. Zakaria was stabbed when he intervened to protect Bappi and later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Shaharia Khan, the deceased’s brother, filed a murder case with Satkhira Sadar Police Station, naming 12 people and accusing seven unidentified others. Police have so far arrested three people, including the prime accused. #EK