They said police are yet to arrest her husband Tuhin who is accused of killing Papia in Barisal on November 3.

Women's rights activists, cultural activists and NGO representatives joined the rally at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city to voice their demand for the arrest of Tuhin and a fair investigation into the murder case.

The speakers also demanded stern action against those who have been sheltering the killer and trying to divert the incident into a different track.

Due to pressure from an influential quarter, the police are yet to extract any vital information from an arrestee, Swapna, one of the accused, they said, adding that the case is also becoming weaker.

They also said Papia's nine-year-old daughter Saptarshi has virtually been kept as a hostage at her father's house.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad General Secretary Ayesha Khanam, Advocate Salma Ali of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association and women's rights activists Hamida Hossain, Maleka Begum, Latifa Akand, Rekha Chowdhury, Rebeka Saniyat and artist Ferdousi Priyobasini spoke at the rally.

Papia Hatya Bichar Dabi Parishad, a forum formed to press home the demand for trial of the killers, organised the rally.

Papia, an official of the Canadian International Development Agency, was killed allegedly by her husband and in-laws in Barisal where she went from Dhaka to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.