This will be the first verdict in a case for journalist murder in Khulna.

Shaikh Haroon-ar-Rashid, a senior reporter of the Dainik Purbanchal was gunned down at 7:30pm on March 2 in 2002 near Mujgunni Nesaria Madrasa under Khalishpur thana in Khulna city.

On the following day, his brother-in-law lodged an FIR with Khalishpur thana without naming any one for the murder. The case was later transferred to CID for investigation.

ASP Mawla Bux of CID who investigated the case submitted charge sheet against three terrorists on March 3 last year. They are Amjad Hossain alias Kala Amjad, Moktar Hossain Baby and Shahin Molla. Kala Amjad was killed by unidentified assailants at Daulatpur on July 12 last year.

Mokter Hossain Baby is now on bail while Shahin is the lone charge-sheeted accused now in jail.

A total of 13 persons including eight alleged terrorists were arrested as suspects in the murder. But ten out of 13 arrestees have been left out of the charge sheet.

The case was transferred to Speedy Trial Tribunal (STT) on September 29 last year from the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge-2.

Sources in STT said statements of 12 out of 29 prosecution witnesses were recorded during the trial.