'Still, I hold on to hope,' says slain blogger Niloy's widow as justice eludes her 9 yrs on

Justice has remained elusive for nine years over the death of blogger Niladri Chattopadhyay Niloy, also known as Niloy Neel, who was brutally hacked to death by unknown assailants at his East Goran residence in the capital on 7 August 2016.

The case filed by his widow, Asha Moni, is currently at witness deposition stage at a Dhaka court.

It was just two years into their marriage, when Asha bid eternal farewell to Niloy. "Since then, I've been clinging to his memory. I've carefully preserved everything he loved. I don't know if I'll be able to see justice for my husband's murder in my lifetime," the grieving widow thus lamented the longstanding trial process in the case.

Meanwhile, the court has completed the testimony of five of the 15 witnesses named in the chargesheet. 

On 30 July, Police Inspector Md Anwar testified at the court of Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Ibrahim Mia. Anwar was also cross-examined by the defence lawyers. 

The next date for witness testimony is 14 September.

Expressing frustration over the prolonged trial, Asha Moni, told TBS, "So much time has passed, yet the trial hasn't been completed. What more can I even ask for now? I'm still waiting for justice in Niloy's murder. I just want the trial to be completed—justice to be delivered; real justice. Why was he killed? They could have given him any other punishment. How could they kill an innocent, lively person like him? I see no justification for his killing.

"I don't know if I'll be able to see the end of the trial before I die. Still, I hold on to hope. I'm waiting for justice. But I don't know when the trial will end—or if there will be justice at all. Still, as long as I'm alive, I will keep hoping for justice," she added.

According to the case statement, on 7 August 2016, Niloy was murdered at his home on Road No 8 near the Tempo Stand in East Goran, Dhaka. That day, four young men entered the house under the pretext of renting a flat, and holding Asha Moni hostage, brutally hacked Niloy, targeting his neck and throat with repeated blows. 

'Witnesses not appearing in court as scheduled'

When asked about the expected timeline for the trial's conclusion, Public Prosecutor Mohammad Billah Hossain told TBS that the proceedings are being delayed because witnesses are not appearing in court as scheduled. 

"Since we took over the case on behalf of the state, testimonies from four witnesses have been recorded. For those witnesses who failed to appear despite receiving a court summons, non-bailable arrest warrants have been issued. We hope to proceed with the trial very soon."

In response to another question, the public prosecutor said he believes the witnesses are too afraid to appear in court. 

"Somehow, their testimonies are becoming biased. While standing in the dock, some public witnesses have claimed they don't remember anything, that they've forgotten everything. But, before appearing at the court, they admitted to knowing the full details."

He added that the court has recorded testimonies from five out of the 15 witnesses listed on the charge sheet.

"More public witnesses will be called next. After that, the testimonies of doctors and forensic officials will be recorded, and the witness examination phase will be concluded. I hope the truth will come out and the victim's family will receive justice."

Who are the accused? 

Previously, on 4 October 2020, the investigation officer of the case, Police Inspector Shah Md Aktaruzzaman Elias, submitted a charge sheet naming 13 individuals as accused. 

The 13 accused are dismissed army major Md Ziaul Haque Zia, Md Masum Rana, Saad Al Nahian, Md Kawsar Hossain Khan, Md Kamal Hossain Sardar, Maolana Mufti Abdul Gaffar, Md Mortuza Faisal Sabbir, Md Tarekul Alam alias Tarek, Khairul Islam alias Jamil, Abu Siddiq Sohel alias Sakib, Mozammel Hossain Saimon, Md Arafat Rahman and Md Sheikh Abdullah alias Jubayer.

Of the accused, two are currently on the run, while another has managed to escape prison. The rest are out on bail. 

The defence lawyers said they too want the trial to be concluded quickly.