Court Correspondent :
The Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 of Dhaka on Tuesday awarded capital punishment to five persons and seven years’ imprisonment to another in a murder case filed in connection with the death of Ekushey Award winner journalist Aftab Ahmed, 78.
Judge Abdur Rahman Sardar passed the order on Tuesday morning in his crowded court room. The death sentenced convicts are driver Humayun Kabir Molla, Billal Hossain Kislu, Habib Hawlader, Razu Munshi and Md Russel. Of them, Razu and Russel are on the run. Another accused Sabuj Khan was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with a fine of Tk 10,000.
After investigation, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) submitted the charge sheet of the case to the court against six persons, including Aftab’s driver Md Humayun Kabir on March 25, 2014.
Of the accused persons, Habib and Humayun gave confessional statements to the court admitting their involvement with the murder.
Aftab Ahmed who began his media career with Daily Ittefaq in 1964 earned Ekushey Award for his outstanding achievements in photography in 2006. On December 24, 2013, Aftab Ahmad was killed in his 63, West Rampura, WAPDA Road residence. The following day, police recovered his body with his hands and legs tied up with ropes.
