12 journalists killed in southwestern dists since '94

The editors are Saiful Alam Mukul of Dainik Runner of Jessore, Mir Elias Hossain Dilip of Birdarpan of Jhenaidah and SM Alauddin of Dainik Patradut of Satkhira.

Only seven accused of two murder cases have been convicted out of which four are suffering life term imprisonment.

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A murder case has been stayed by the High Court, while nine other cases still hangs in balance.

Four victims of murders are from Khulna, four from Jessore, two from Jhenaidah, one from Satkhira and another from Chuadanga.

Editor Saiful Alam Mukul of Dainik Runner of Jessore was gunned down on August 30 in 1998. A case was filed on the following day with Jessore Kotwali thana. A charge-sheet was submitted on April 23 in 1999 against 22 accused. The case is still under trial. The CID investigated the case.

Editor Mir Elias Hossain Dilip of Jhenaidah Dainik Birdarpan was killed on January 15 in 2000. This case still hangs in balance as the chargesheet is yet to be submitted.

Editor SM Alauddin of Satkhira Dainik Patradut was killed on June 19 in 1996. The CID submitted chargesheet against 10 FIR-named accused. Six out of 10 chargesheeted accused are on bail, two are in jail, while two others are absconding. Trial of this case has been stayed by an order of the High Court in 1999.

Besides, three editors, Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury a reporter of Jessore Dainik Sphulinga was killed in 1994. Three chargesheeted accused of this case have been convicted.

Faruque Hossain, crime reporter of Jessore Dainik Runner was killed in 1995. Four accused have been given life term imprisonment in the murder case.

Shamsur Rahman, Jessore bureau Chief of Dainik Janakantha was killed on July 16 in 2000. The case is still under investigation of the CID. For this reason trial is yet to be started. A chargesheet was submitted during the earstwhile government. But an extended chargesheet has been submitted by the present government without consent of the complainant. The complainant submitted a petition to court rejecting the extended chargesheet.

Rezaul Karim Reza, general secretary of Jhenaidah press club was killed on July 16 in 1998.

Mohammod Bazlur Rahman, crime reporter of Dainik Din Badal of Chuadanga was killed on June 12 in 1998.

Nahor Ali, crim ereporter of Dainik Anirvan of Khulna was severely injured in armed attack on April 19 in 2001. He died at a local clinic on April 22. A chargesheet was submitted against 16 accused on February 17, 2002. Five of the chargesheeted accused are in jail while others are still at large. The case is still under trial.

Shukur of Dainik Anirban, Khulna was killed in 2001. Investigation of this case is still going on.

Shaikh Haroon-ar-Rashid, crime reporter of Dainik Purbanchal, Khulna was killed on March 2, 2002. Investigation of this case is still going on.

The latest victim is Manik Saha, Khulna-based staff correspondent of Dainik Sangbad. He was killed in a bomb attack at 1-15 pm on January 15 this year near Khulna Press Club.