Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Monday acquitted five death row convicts and 21 lifers on murder charge in a case filed 19 years ago in Araihazar Police Station of Narayanganj district.
A HC bench comprising Justice Abu Bakar Siddiquee and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam delivered the judgment after hearing the death reference and appeal petitions filed by the convicts against the lower court verdict pronounced in 2009.
The HC bench rejected the death reference and granted the appeal petitions.
Advocate Rabeya Bhuiyan and Advocate Ibrahim Mollah represented the appellants in the court. Deputy Attorney General Moniruzzaman Rubel stood for the State and Advocate Bahar Uddin Al Razi represented some accused as a State-appointed lawyer.
Moniruzzaman Rubel told the reporters that the HC acquitted the accused as their relation with the offense was not proved beyond doubt. But, the State would appeal against the verdict, he said.
According to the prosecution, Abdul Latif (45), a resident of Mardashadi village in Araihazar Upazila, was stabbed to death by the convicts over previous enmity on September 10, 1998.
Later, Abdul Hannan brother of Abdul Latif’, filed a murder case against 24 persons in Araihazar Police Station. Police submitted charge sheet against 26 people on December 31, 1999.
On November 24, 2009, Narayanganj Additional District and Session Judge sentenced five people to death and 21 others to life term imprisonment in the case.
Death reference of the convicts weresent to the HC in that year. Besides, the convicts also filed separate petitions challenging the lower court verdict.
After hearing the death reference and appeal petitions the HC finally delivered the judgment yesterday.
The condemned convicts are: Barek, Omar Ali, Sohel alias Safu, Afaj Uddin and Shawkat Ali. Of them, Omar Ali died in prison during the trial proceedings, said his lawyer.
The High Court (HC) on Monday acquitted five death row convicts and 21 lifers on murder charge in a case filed 19 years ago in Araihazar Police Station of Narayanganj district.
A HC bench comprising Justice Abu Bakar Siddiquee and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam delivered the judgment after hearing the death reference and appeal petitions filed by the convicts against the lower court verdict pronounced in 2009.
The HC bench rejected the death reference and granted the appeal petitions.
Advocate Rabeya Bhuiyan and Advocate Ibrahim Mollah represented the appellants in the court. Deputy Attorney General Moniruzzaman Rubel stood for the State and Advocate Bahar Uddin Al Razi represented some accused as a State-appointed lawyer.
Moniruzzaman Rubel told the reporters that the HC acquitted the accused as their relation with the offense was not proved beyond doubt. But, the State would appeal against the verdict, he said.
According to the prosecution, Abdul Latif (45), a resident of Mardashadi village in Araihazar Upazila, was stabbed to death by the convicts over previous enmity on September 10, 1998.
Later, Abdul Hannan brother of Abdul Latif’, filed a murder case against 24 persons in Araihazar Police Station. Police submitted charge sheet against 26 people on December 31, 1999.
On November 24, 2009, Narayanganj Additional District and Session Judge sentenced five people to death and 21 others to life term imprisonment in the case.
Death reference of the convicts weresent to the HC in that year. Besides, the convicts also filed separate petitions challenging the lower court verdict.
After hearing the death reference and appeal petitions the HC finally delivered the judgment yesterday.
The condemned convicts are: Barek, Omar Ali, Sohel alias Safu, Afaj Uddin and Shawkat Ali. Of them, Omar Ali died in prison during the trial proceedings, said his lawyer.
