A Dhaka court has fixed March 20 to record the statements of the witnesses in a case filed over famous Bangladeshi film actor of the 90’s Sohel Chowhdhury on Thursday.

Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 Judge Zakir Hossain passed the order during a hearing, said Afrin Shilpi, Additional Public Prosecutor of the court.

She said that the court earlier had fixed Thursday for the accused to appear before court.

Of the nine accused, Tariq Sayeed Mamun was produced before court from jail but Harun Ur Rashid alias Leather Liton was not produced, said the APP.

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The court granted the appeals of accused Adnan Siddiqui, Faruq Abbasi for more time and fixed the date to start recording the statements, said APP Afrin.

Lawyers of the defendants Afakul Islam alias Bunty Islam, owner of Trumps club, businessman Aziz Mohammad alias Abdul Aziz and Selim Khan did not take any steps.

Meanwhile, other two accused in the case Sanzidul Islam Imon and Ashish Ray Chowdhury are absconding.

According to documents, the higher court cleared the way for trial in the case on February 27, last by withdrawing a long standing stay order.

On December 19, 1998, actor Sohel was shot dead my some terrorists in Trumps Club in Abedin Tower at city’s Banani-17 road.

A murder case was filed in this regard at Gulshan police station followed by a complaint lodged by Sohels’ brother Towhidul Islam Chowdhury.

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On July 30,1999, Abul Kashem Bepari, Additional police Commissioner of Detective Police submitted a charge sheet  against nine people in this case.

On October 30, 2001, Dhaka’s third additional metropolitan session judge court framed charges against the nine accused. After two years of indictment the case was transferred to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2.

The same year one of the accused appealed  the High Court.

Since 2003, followed by an accused’s appeal to the High Court, the trial in the case remained suspended for 19 years .