Public Safety Tribunal and Special Sessions Judge's court in Rajshahi fixed June 18 for framing charges as the defense lawyers submitted a petition seeking time.

Meanwhile, the key mastermind-suspects -- Rajshahi University Islami Chhatra Shibir president Mahbubul Alam Salehi and Rajshahi University teacher Dr Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin submitted prayers for dropping the murder charge against them.

The charge framing date was shifted four times since June 6.

Earlier on June 11, the court deferred the charge framing.

Prof Taher, a teacher geology and mining department, was killed on February 1 last year. His body was recovered from a sewer behind his RU campus residence.