A set of disgruntled army men gunned down Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, AHM Quamruzzaman and Captain M Mansur Ali, four close associates of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Dhaka Central Jail on November 3, 1975.

The killing episode came two months and 18 days after Bangabandhu along with most of his family were assassinated in a military putsch.

A murder case was filed with Lalbagh Police Station following the day of killing, but the then government halted the trial issuing an indemnity ordinance.

Returning to power in 1996, 21 years after the killing, the Awami League government scrapped the indemnity ordinance that blocked trial of the killers.

After a police investigation, charge was framed against 23 including 17 army men. The trial began on April 12, 2001 with the deposition of complainant of the case and the court has so far recorded statements of 18 witnesses out of 75.

Lawyers involved with the case blamed the slow pace of the trial on the present government's neglect.

Of the accused, senior leader of the ruling BNP KM Obaidur Rahman MP, BNP candidate for the last parliamentary elections Nurul Islam Manzoor, Jatiya Party leader Shah Moazzem Hossain and Maj (retd) Khairuzzaman got bail after the coalition government took office in October 2001. The government also reinstated Khairuzzaman in his foreign ministry position this year.

Other accused Taheruddin Thakur, Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Faruk Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan and Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda are in custody. Twelve accused have been evading arrest, while three others died.

Special public prosecutors of the case have been removed by the present government and no-one was appointed to conduct the case on behalf of the complainant.

The hearing of the case was adjourned following a transfer petition filed by Syeda Johra Tajuddin, widow of former prime minister Tajuddin, with the High Court for concluding the trial by any judge of the High Court Division.

But the petition was turned down and the hearing resumed in the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, Dhaka after an eight-month pause on October 20.

The court fixed November 11 for next hearing of the case, removed 12 state defence lawyers and appointed two new state defence lawyers.

The main opposition Awami League and its front organisations laid out a set of programmes in honour of the slain leaders, who led the War of Independence in the absence of Bangabandhu.

The AL will hoist the national and party flags at half-mast and black flags at party offices in Dhaka and elsewhere. Leaders and workers will wear black badges to mourn the day.

The programmes also include garlanding the portrait of Bangabandhu, placing wreaths at the graves of the national leaders at Banani graveyard and offering fateha and organising milad mahfils and special prayers.

The party will also hold a discussion at the auditorium of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh at 2:30pm, with Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Hasina issued a statement yesterday paying tribute to the four leaders and said: "Their sacrifice will never go in vain. It will continue inspiring people forever."

She recalled the glorious contributions by the leaders to the nation's struggle for independence.