Sylhet: A Sylhet court on Wednesday deferred the recoding of testimony of the witnesses in ex-Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria murder case to March 1.

Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Makbul Ahsan fixed the date as the accused did not appear before the tribunal.

Out of 171 witnesses, four, including complainant Awami League Habiganj district unit’s general secretary Abdul Majid, so far made their depositions before the tribunal.

On 13 September, 2015, a Sylhet court indicted 32 people, including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and suspended Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) mayor Ariful Haque, in the sensational murder case.

Earlier, the charge framing hearing in the sensational case was deferred for nine times.

Five people, including Kibria, were killed and 70 others injured in a grenade attack on a public rally of local Awami League at Baidder Bazar in Sadar upazila on 27 January, 2005.

Awami League leader Abdul Mazid Khan filed two cases—one for murder and another under the Explosives Substances Act—with the Habiganj Police Station the following day.

Kibria murder case was transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunal from Habiganj Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on June 11, 2015, for its quick disposal.

Earlier, assistant Superintendent of CID Munshi Atique submitted a charge sheet against 10 BNP leaders and activists on 19 March, 2005.