Complainants in the cases are also not satisfied with the investigations as masterminds behind the murders have been left out of charge sheets, they said.

The four journalists killed by allegedly extremists in Khulna city from March 2 in 2002 till February 11 this year are Dainik Purbanchal Staff Reporter Harun-ar-Rashid, Khulna Corespondent of the New Age Manik Saha, Dainik Janmabhumi Editor Humayun Kabir Balu and Khulna Bureau Chief of Dainik Sangram Sheikh Belaluddin.

Unidentified extremists were accused in all the charge sheets submitted under the Explosive Substances Act. But masterminds and financiers were left out of the charge sheets. The cases were filed by police as complainant.

However, Deputy Commissioner Akbar Ali of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) refused to admit that fate of the murder cases has become uncertain.

Charge sheets of these cases were submitted after 'checking and rechecking' the role of investigating officers (IOs) by the Monitoring Cell of the home ministry, Akbar Ali said.

Fate of the murder cases now solely depends on deposition of prosecution witnesses during trial, he said.

Journalist Haroon was gunned down on the night of March 2 in 2002 at Mujgunni under Khalishpur thana in Khulna city. The IO of the case, ASP Mawla Bux of CID, submitted charge sheet on March 3 this year, accusing three persons of the murder.

Journalist Manik Saha was killed in a bomb attack at noon on January 15 last year in front of Khulna Press Club. The IO submitted charge sheet accusing 12 persons.

Dainik Janmabhumi Editor Humayun Kabir Balu was killed in a bomb attack at noon on June 27 last year in front of his office-cum-residence at Haji Ismail Road in Khulna city. Inspector Abdul Hamid of DB of KMP submitted charge sheet on last April 26, accusing eight operatives of PBCP (Janajuddho).

Journalist Shaikh Belaluddin, severely injured in a bomb attack on the night of February 5 last year in front of Khulna Press Club, died at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka in the morning of February 11.

OC Iqbal Hossain of Khulna thana submitted charge sheet under the Explosive Substances Act on April 25, accusing four extremists and a local leader of Jamaat-e-Islami.

When asked, Advocate Abu Zafar, Public Prosecutor at Khulna Speedy Trial Tribunal, told this correspondent that fate of all the cases depend on deposition of prosecution witnesses and confession of the accused.

The PP said depositions of 23 prosecution witnesses have been recorded in Manik Saha murder case.

Journalist Belal murder case is still under investigation, while Humayun Kabir Balu murder case docket is yet to reach the trial court.

Trial of Haroon murder case is yet to begin, Abu Zafar said.