Important dates in the trial of Bangabandhu murder case

In the 27 years that followed the bloodbath, legal proceedings against the accused were initiated only in 1996 due to the inhibition imposed by the infamous indemnity ordinance, enacted by the post-Mujib regime of Khondoker Mustaque Ahmed.

Appended below is the chronology of the legal dates pertaining to the trial proceedings concerning the Bangabandhu murder case.

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* October 2, 1996: AFM Mohitul Islam, a personal assistant-at-residence of the slain leader, filed an FIR with the Dhanmondi Police Station for trial of the killers.

* October 3, 1996: Crime Investigation Department (CID) takes up the case for investigation.

* November 12, 1996: The Jatiya Sangsad repeals the Indemnity Ordinance.

* January 15, 1997: Charge sheet submitted before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court implicating 20 people in the killing.

* January 20, 1997: Arrested accused produced before the court.

* January 28, 1997: High Court dismisses a quash petition challenging legality of the repeal of the Indemnity Ordinance.

* February 3, 1997: Notice published in newspapers asking absconding accused to produce themselves before the court.

February 20, 1997: Arrested accused produced before the CMM Court.

* March 1, 1997: The CMM Court transferred trial proceedings to Dhaka District and Sessions Judge's Court.

* March 3, 1997: Special courtroom set up near Dhaka Central Jail with Dhaka District and Sessions Judge Kazi Golam Rasul as the trial judge. Advocate Serajul Haq named special public prosecutor for the case.

* March 12, 1997: Six charge-sheeted accused produced before the Session Judge Court.

* March 20, 1997: State appointed defense counsels for 14 fugitives at public expense.

* April 6, 1997: Hearing began for preparing charges against the accused.

* April 7, 1997: Charges submitted against 20 accused.

* April 21, 1997: High Court stayed a petition by one of the accused, Zobaida Rashid, challenging legality of charges.

* April 29, 1997: High Court rejected petition of Zobaida Rashid. The case, however, remained stayed until hearing on a petition regarding the proper venue for trial.

* April 30, 1997: High Court rejected petition about the court's competence.

* May 4, 1997: High Court stayed proceedings for one month following petition by Zobaida Rashid.

* July 6, 1997: The trial began as plaintiffs rendered depositions. One of the accused, Zobaida Rashid, got acquitted upon High Court's order.

* March 2, 1998: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court rejected a petition challenging legality of the annulment of the Indemnity Ordinance.

* July 9, 1998: Bangladesh signed extradition treaty with Thailand.

* July 21, 1998: 61 prosecution witnesses' statement recorded.

August 12, 1998: Cross-examination of prosecution witnesses began.

* October 13, 1998: Hearing completed after 149 working days' of proceedings.

* November 8, 1998: Verdict pronounced and capital punishment awarded to 15 accused, 4 acquitted.

* November 11, 1998: Death reference sent to High Court.

* January 16, 2000, A High Court division bench (comprising Justice Kazi Ebadul Huq and Mokbul Huq) refused to hear the case urging parties to go to appropriate court.

* February 6, A High Court Division Bench (comprising Justice MM Ruhul Amin And Abdul Matin) refused to hear the urging parties to wait for appropriate time.

* February 6, A High Court Division Bench (comprising Justice Ruhul Amin and SK Sinha) refused to take the case urging parties to go to appropriate bench.

* February 7, Another High Court Division Bench (comprising Justice Nurul Islam and justice Momotazuddin) refused to take the case.

* March 30, Chief Justice constituted a Bench (comprising Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury and Justice Abdul Aziz) to hear the death reference.

* April 10, Justice Amirul Kabir Chowdhury expressed embarrassment to hear the case.

* April 24, Chief Justice assigned Justice MM Ruhul Amin and MA Matin to hear the case.

* April 24, Judges expressed embarrassment in writing to hear the case, prompting the Chief Justice to constitute a new death reference bench comprised of Justice Ruhul Amin and ABM Khairul Huq.

* April 24, 2000: Petition filed against trial court verdict by the accused. The cause list incorporated issue of confirmation of the verdict by a High Court Division (comprised of Justice Ruhul Amin and Justice ABM Khairul Haq).

* June 28, 2000: Hearing on the petition and death reference began.

* November 28, 2000: Hearing completed.

* December 14, 2000: Division bench of the High Court gave split verdict: One judge confirmed death sentences to 10 accused and acquitted five others while the other judge upheld trial court verdict that awarded death sentences 15 accused.

* January 15, 2001: Third bench constituted with Justice Fazlul Karim to dispose of split verdict.

* February 12, 2001: Hearing on split verdict began.

* April 14, 2001: Hearing completed.

* April 30, 2001: Third Judge pronounced verdict and upheld death sentence to 12 accused.

Following this, four convicts filed leave to appeal against the High Court verdict.

* August 16, 2001, Justice Kazi Golam Rabbani expressed embarrassment to hearing the review petition. The leave to appeal hearing lay pending with the Appellate Division due to shortage of judges.

Prepared by Zayadul Ahsan, Senior Reporter, The Daily Star.