Victimising journalists: A decades-long tradition of denying justice

GBNEWS24DESK//

Twenty-two years have come and gone since her husband was shot to death, but Selina Akhter Lucky has all but given up hope for justice for the brutal murder. 

Shamsur Rahman, a prominent journalist of Jashore, was shot dead by two armed assailants at his office in the district town on July 16, 2000, sparking movements by journalists in Jashore and across the country.

The special correspondent of Dainik Janakantha had received death threats in the weeks leading up to his killing.

Since being shifted to the Speedy Trial Tribunal, Khulna in 2005, the murder case of Shamsur has simply been stuck in limbo.

“What should I say about the status of the case? I do not see any hope of justice now,” said Lucky, now 57, in a tone of resignation.

After the murder, Lucky, a retired government official, filed the case with Kotwali Police Station. Police later submitted a charge sheet against 17, including top criminals Asaduzzaman Litu and Mushfequr Rahman Hirok of Khulna.

As the trail proceedings were transferred to the Speedy Tribunal, Litu started threatening witnesses with dire consequences if they appeared before the court. Lucky filed a petition with the High Court requesting to transfer the case back to a Jessore court for security reasons.

Litu was later killed in a police shootout.

But case proceedings remained halted after one of the accused got a stay order from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court some 10 years ago.

“I haven’t heard any development in the case since then,” she added.