Five witnesses give depositions

Five witnesses, including a brother of the complainant, gave depositions in two cases filed over the Narayangan seven-murder, reports our Narayanganj correspondent.           

Later, two, including the complainant, were cross-examined by the defence lawyers.

Prosecution lawyer Advocate Sakhawat Hossain alleged that slain former councillor and panel mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation Nazrul Islam's brother Abdus Salam could not attend the court to give his deposition as the defendants threatened him.

However, Advocate Sakhawat expressed his hope to our staff correspondent in Dhaka that Abdus Salam will appear before the court on the next day of hearing on April 25.

Nazrul's father-in-law Shahidul Islam also told The Daily Star that after main accused Nur Hossain was brought back to Bangladesh from India, the criminal group patronised by Nur Hossain has been threatening witnesses and the complainant.

Nazrul and six others  were abducted from Fatullah Dampara area on  Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road  on April 27, 2014 and three days later their bodies were found floating in the Sitalakkhya river.

Following the murders, Nur Hossain fled to India and was arrested in Kolkata on June 14, 2015, for trespassing and keeping illegal firearms. He was brought back to Bangladesh on November 12, 2015.

A Narayanganj court has framed charges against 35 people, including Nur and three fired Rab officials, in the two cases.