People from all walks of life, including newsmen, at a rally in front of Shahzadpur Press Club in Sirajganj yesterday demanded exemplary punishment of the killers of journalist Abdul Hakim Shimul.
On the day in 2017, Shimul, Shahjadpur correspondent of Daily Samakal, was shot in a clash between two factions of upazila Awami League near the house of Shahzadpur municipality mayor. He succumbed to his injuries on the way to Dhaka the following day.
Later, the victim's wife Nurunnahar Begum filed a case with Shahjadpur Police Station against key accused Mayor Halimul Haque Miru and 24 other people.
On May 2 last year, police submitted charge sheet accusing 38 people including the mayor, his brother Habibul Haque Mintu and upazila AL leader Nasir Uddin in the case.
Police arrested Miru and 29 other people since the murder.
The speakers at the rally urged the government to bring the killers to book immediately for the sake of the justice and the safety of the journalists.
Bimol Kumar, president of the press club, Topon Das, news editor of Daily Samakal, and the slain journalist's wife Nurunahar Begum, spoke at the programme .
The case was shifted to Sirajganj Judge's Court on January 25 this year. The court has fixed date in April for charge framing, said advocate Abul Kashem, lawyer to Shimul murder case.
