They said the delay in delivering verdict appeared to be the government interference in the trial process with a motive to let the criminals go scot-free.

"The entire nation was agog with expectation that the criminals would get capital punishment for the hideous massacre. But the verdict date has been rescheduled in an unprecedented manner that has diminished our hopes for justice," Mohammad Nasim, son of the slain finance minister M Mansur Ali, told The Daily Star.

"Reschedule of the verdict date is hard to treat as an isolated affair as the ruling parties are desperate to save the accused in the killings," said Nasim, the former home minister of the previous Awami League (AL) government.

In the same systematic way the government has been delaying implementation of the verdict of the Bangabandhu murder case, Nasim alleged.

He said people are fed up with the present government, especially after the August 21 grenade attacks on Opposition Leader Sheikh Hasina at the AL rally.

"The government does not want the verdict to be delivered right now. If the accused are let off the hook now, the government is destined to face public fury. They are probably waiting to see the anti-government sentiment die down before the judgement is delivered," Nasim predicted.

He also alleged the accused have already taken preparations for celebrating their 'sure acquittal' with feasts.

Sohel Taz, son of the late prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed, also smelt a rat.

"We heard the news that the judge deferred the judgement date to September 21, and such move is not unquestionable as the government has been interfering in the trial process since it came to power," said the AL lawmaker from Gazipur.

"We have been waiting for this day for the last 29 years to see the triumph of justice. But once again justice has been delayed," Taz lamented.

Terming the move mysterious, he said, "Justice appears to me a distant dream now."

AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, son of the other slain leader AHM Quamruzzaman, is, however, hopeful about a fair judgement. "It's not fair to comment at this moment…The case is still under trial as the verdict is not delivered," he said. "Our family is hopeful we will get justice on September 21 and the criminals will be punished as per law."