Oprotim murder: Lawyers of Cumilla will not fight the case on behalf of accused

Cumilla District Bar Association has taken the decision of not standing any lawyer on behalf of the accused in the murder case of Ishayat Shahriar Apratim, 13, the only son of Associate Professor of the Bangla Department of Comilla University Nahida Begum. The leaders of the association have informed that this decision has been taken from the humanitarian point of view itself.

This decision was taken at a discussion meeting held between the District Bar Association and the university administration at the conference room of Comilla University in the afternoon on Tuesday (September 22). After the end of the meeting president of the association Advocate Md Sahid Ullah and general secretary Md Mahbubul Haque Khandaker informed the matter to the journalists.

Vice-Chancellor of the university Professor Dr M M Shariful Karim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Amjad Hossain Sarkar, Treasurer Professor Dr Md Solaiman, the leaders of the District Bar Association and the students of the university were present at the meeting.

Discussions were held at the meeting on ensuring justice in the Apratim murder, identifying the real criminals and ensuring their highest punishment.

After the end of the meeting Advocate Sahid Ullah said, ‘It has been decided verbally from the humanitarian point of view that no one of the Comilla District Bar Association will fight on behalf of the accused in this case.’

In reply to the question whether any disruption will occur in the process of justice if no lawyer stands on behalf of the accused he said, ‘In such a situation the state itself will appoint a lawyer on behalf of the accused. Because there remains the apprehension of justice not being ensured in a one-sided trial.’

Later the leaders of the Bar Association went to the house of Apratim at Gandhamati of Kotbari area, met his parents and expressed their condolences.

Mother of Oprotim Nahida Begum said propaganda is being carried out against them even after losing the innocent child and the associates of those involved in the murder are also involved in these activities.

At this time the parents of Oprotim demanded quick trial. The leaders of the Bar Association assured them of justice.

Oprotim went missing after coming out of the rented house at Gandhamati area of Kotbari of Cumilla at noon last Friday. His body was recovered from the lonely jungle of Lalmai hill of Sananda village under Bijoypur union of Sadar Dakshin upazila at noon the next day on Saturday.

Oprotim was a student of class seven of Border Guard Public School of Cumilla.

Police informed that Saiful Islam Tuhin, 19, and two teenagers (15 and 16 years) have been arrested so far on the allegation of being directly involved in the murder and Md Siyam, 19, on the suspicion of being involved. Police has informed that the remaining three except Siyam have given confessional statements at the Cumilla court.