The third day of second phase of testimonial statements in the murder case of Maj (retd) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan concluded at a Cox’s Bazar court Tuesday with the testimony and statement of the fifth witness. The court adjourned at around 5 pm after Hafeez Mohammad Amin’s testimony as an eyewitness and his interrogation by defense lawyers. The statement was recorded before Cox’s Bazar district and session court Judge Md Ismail. He was presented before the court amid tight security around 10 am on the day. After the hearing, defense lawyer Rana Dasgupta told the media that Mohammad Amin is a Rohingya. “He said that he saw the murder from atop a mosque and he used to work there. However, the president and the general secretary of the mosque informed us that they don’t know anyone by this name.” Public Prosecutor Faridul Alam refuted the claim and said that the witness is a Bangladeshi citizen. He went on to say that the national identity of the witness is irrelevant and the matter is being brought up to steer the conversation to a different direction. Plaintiff's lawyer Advocate Mohammad Jahangir added that the aforementioned mosque does not have any committee. READ: Sinha murder: Court warns against 'media trial' “The concept of the president and general secretary not knowing the witness is ludicrous as the mosque doesn't have a committee in the first place,” he added. Earlier, during the three-day testimonial statements recording from August 23 to August 25, plaintiff Sharmin Sahariya Ferdous, sister of Sinha, and witness Shahedul Islam Sifat’s statements were recorded. On Sunday, third witness Mohammad Ali’s statement was recorded at the court on the first day of the second phase of testimonial statements. On Monday the court heard from the fourth witness, CNG driver Kamal Hossain’s testimony . The 11 other witnesses who received the court notice are scheduled to testify by Wednesday. On July 31 last year, Sinha was shot dead at the Shamlapur police check-post in Baharchhara Union of Cox's Bazar while returning to town after filming for a documentary. Read: Sinha murder: Defence lawyers allegedly obstruct trial On August 5, Sinha's sister, Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, filed a case with Teknaf Senior Judicial Magistrate Court accusing nine members of law enforcement agencies of being involved in the killing, including Pradeep Kumar Das and Baharchhara police outpost inspector Liakat Ali. On December 13, 2020, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) submitted a charge sheet against 15 people, including police source Ayaz and three APBn members, in connection with the case filed over Sinha's murder at a checkpost manned by APBn, where officers of the Teknaf police station intercepted Sinha's car. All of the 15 accused in the charge-sheet are currently in jail. Of them 12 have given confessional statements before court except OC Pradeep Kumar Das, constable Sagar Dev and Rubel Sharma. Other accused of the case are- Inspector of Baharchara Police outpost Liakat Ali, sub-inspectors Nandolal Rakkhit and Tutul, assistant sub-inspector Liton Mia; constables Shafanur Karim, Kamal Hossain, Abdullah AL Mamun, , Md Rajib and Md Abdullah, ASI of APBN Md Shahjahan and Nurul Amin, Md Nizamuddin and Ayaz Uddin.

A Cox’s Bazar court has asked all concerned to be careful not to turn the Sinha Murder trial into a 'media trial'. Judge Ismail Hossain of the Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Court made the observation after completion of recording witness statements Sunday.  Public Prosecutor Faridul Alam and Defendant's lawyer Advocate Rana Das Gupta revealed the court's observation to the press. Read: Sinha murder case trial: Court records testimonial statements for 2nd day They said that the court asked the responsible authorities to avoid talking to the media about the details of the case, stating that it increases the chance of a media trial . The court on Sunday morning started the second phase of testimonies in a case filed over the murder of Major (retd) Sinha Md Rashed Khan. The testimony of the third witness named Mohammad Ali was recorded during this time. According to the case charge sheet, there are 83 witnesses. The testimony of two others were recorded in the first phase between August 23-25. Read: Sinha murder: Defence lawyers allegedly obstruct trial They were  plaintiff Sharmin Shahriar (Sinha's sister), and eyewitness Shahidul Islam Sifat. Major (retd) Sinha was killed in police firing at Baharchhara police check-post on July 31. Sharmin Shahriar filed the case at Teknaf Senior Judicial Magistrate Court, accusing 13 police members.

The third day of testimonial statements in the murder case of Maj. (retd) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan concluded at Cox’s Bazar court Wednesday.  The court adjourned at around 6:30 pm with Shahedul Islam Sifat's testimony and interrogation. In the three-day testimonial statements recording August 23 to 25, plaintiff Sharmin Sahariya Ferdous, sister of Sinha, and witness Shahedul Islam Sifat’s testimony were recorded. Read: Sinha murder case trial: Court records testimonial statements for 2nd day The court on Wednesday ordered testimony of other witnesses of this case to record on September 5 to 8. Fifteen accused of the murder case were presented to the court under intense security. Additional police were deployed after pictures of OC Pradeep talking on a mobile phone in the courtroom spread through social media in the morning. Meanwhile, three policemen were suspended for their negligence in duty at the court after the photos raised questions about the court security. By afternoon a probe committee was formed in this regard. During this time, various organizations formed human chain in front of the Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner's Office demanding a fair trial for Sinha's murder. Public prosecutor advocate Faridul Alam, said after the three-day testimonial recording the court has announced September 5 to 8, four days for the testimony of the remaining witnesses. Read:Sinha murder: Defence lawyers allegedly obstruct trial While leaving the court premises in the evening, witness Shahedul Islam Sifat told reporters that Sinha was the victim of a premeditated murder. “Hopefully the court will do justice.,” he said. On July 31 last year, Sinha was shot dead at the Shamlapur police check-post in Baharchhara Union of Cox's Bazar while returning to town after filming for a documentary. On August 5, Sinha's sister, Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, filed a case with Teknaf Senior Judicial Magistrate Court accusing nine members of law enforcement agencies of being involved in the killing, including Pradeep Kumar Das and Baharchhara police outpost inspector Liakat Ali. On December 13, 2020, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) submitted a charge sheet against 15 people, including police source Ayaz and three APBn members, in connection with the case filed over Sinha's murder at a checkpost manned by APBn, where officers of the Teknaf police station intercepted Sinha's car. Read:HC refuses bail to another 3 accused in Sinha murder case All of the 15 accused of the charge sheet are currently in jail. Of them 12 have given confessional statements before court except OC Pradeep Kumar Das, constable Sagar Dev and Rubel Sharma. Other accused of the case are- Inspector of Baharchara Police outpost Liakat Ali, sub-inspectors Nandolal Rakkhit and Tutul, assistant sub-inspector Liton Mia; constables Shafanur Karim, Kamal Hossain, Abdullah AL Mamun, , Md Rajib and Md Abdullah, ASI of APBN Md Shahjahan and Nurul Amin, Md Nizamuddin and Ayaz Uddin.