Sylhet: A court in Sylhet on Monday fixed 30 September for starting the recording of testimony of the witnesses in the ex-Finance Minister SAMS Kibria murder case.

Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Makbul Ahsan passed the order in the presence of 22 accused, including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, suspended Sylhet City Corporation mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, suspended Habiganj municipality mayor GK Gaus and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami (Huji) chief Mufti Hannan.

Meanwhile, lawyers of Ariful Haque filed a petition with the court for sending sick mayor Ariful to Dhaka for better treatment, tribunal public prosecutor adv Kishore Kumar Kar said.

On 13 September, 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’s Court on 11 June for its quick disposal.

Assistant Superintendent of CID Munshi Atique submitted a chargesheet against 10 BNP leaders and activists on 19 March 2005.