Judge Mohammod Abdus Samad delivered the verdict, the first one in a journalist murder case in Khulna.

The acquitted are Mohammad Shahin, Shaikh Moktar Hossain alias Baby and Mohammad Amjad Hossain alias Kala Amjad.

Kala Amjad was killed by rivals on July 13 last year in Khulna city while Moktar Hossain Baby has been absconding after his release on bail from the High Court last year.

Mohammad Shahin, who was present in the court to hear the judgement, will be released from Khulna district jail today morning if he is not wanted in any other case, jail sources said.

The accused have been acquitted, as their involvement in the murder could not be proved from statements of prosecution witnesses recorded during the trial, the judge observed in his judgement.

Shaikh Harun-ar-Rashid, a senior reporter of Dainik Purbanchal published from Khulna city, was gunned down at 7:30pm on March 2, 2002 at Mujgunni under Khalishpur thana when he was going to his office by motorcycle.

His brother-in-law Morol lodged an FIR with Khalishpur Police Station on March 3 naming none as accused.

The case was later transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for investigation. Assistant Superintendent of Police Mawla Bux, who investigated the case, submitted charge sheet against the three on March 3 last year.

Ten others, including Gazi Kamrul, the second-in-command of outlawed Biplobi Communist Party, were also arrested as suspects in the murder case but their names were not included in the charge sheet.

The case was transferred to Speedy Trial Tribunal on September 29 last year from the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge-2.

Statements of 12 out of 29 prosecution witnesses were recorded during the trial, tribunal sources said.

Complainant of the murder case Morol broke down in tears hearing the judgement that acquitted the accused.

Wife of the slain journalist Minara Begum expressed her sense of insecurity as one of the three acquitted gave her death threats several times for not withdrawing the case.

"I have not got justice," she said.

Khulna Press Club leaders demanded re-investigation of the case and necessary steps for holding the trial again.

The accused in the murder case were acquitted due to failure of the state to conduct the case properly and CID's defective investigation, Khulna Press Club President Liaquat Ali and General Secretary A K Hiru said in a statement to the press.