Earlier, the murder case was sent to the tribunal on last March 30.

Judge of the Tribunal MA Samad told this correspondent that trial of the case could not be completed within the stipulated time as the investigation officer (IO) had failed to produce prosecution witnesses before the tribunal on the different fixed dates for hearing.

Noor Mohammod, administrative officer of Bagerhat Judge's court, received the case docket on Tuesday afternoon from Khulna Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bagerhat ordered further investigation of the case on July 26 last year following a petition filed by the public prosecutor. The IO submitted report on further investigation on December 4 last year instead of September10.

Complainant Happy Boral said that prosecution witnesses could not be produced before the court for deposition as they had received death threats from the accused.

Happy Boral, also wife of slain Kalidas Boral, said some of the accused were influential and creating obstruction in the process of trial.

Advocate Kalidas Boral, senior vice-president of Bagerhat district Awami League and Bagerhat District Puja Udjapan Parishad President, was gunned down on August 20 in 2000.

FIR was lodged with Begarhat Sadar thana on August 21.

IO pressed charges against 22 people on December 4 last year.

All the accused are now on bail.