Court Correspondent :The High Court (HC) Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday confirmed the death penalty awarded by a tribunal for six people in the case filed in connection with the killing of Awami League leader Ahsanullah Master. A HC Bench comprising of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath pronounced the decision on Wednesday. Earlier, a Speedy Trial Tribunal on April 16, 2005, handed down death penalty to 22 people, including the prime accused, BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarkar, and life in prison to six others in the high-profile murder case.Of them, 17 are currently behind the bar. Two of them died, while nine other convicts are on the run.The apex court upheld the life sentence handed to Nurul Amin. Besides, it upheld the life term sentence, delivered to Nurul Amin, and Ohidul Islam Tipu as he did not file any appeal with the HC. The death sentenced convicts are Nurul Islam Sarker, Nurul Islam Dipu, Mahbubur Rahman, Shahidul Islam Shipu, Hafiz alias Kana Hafiz and Sohag alias Shoru. The HC commuted capital punishment to life term to seven convicts and they are Mohammad Ali, Syed Ahmed Majnu, Anwaar Hossain Anu, Ratan Mia alias Boro Ratan, Abu Salam, Moshiur Rahman Moshu and Jahangir, son of Kashem Matbor.The apex court acquitted eleven convicts. They are Amir, Jahangir alias Boro Jahangir, Rakibuddin Sarker alias Pappu Sarker, Ayub Ali, Faisal, Lokman Hossain Bulu, Rony Fakir, Khokon, Dulal Mia, Monir and Jahangir, son of Meher Ali.Meanwhile, Ahsanullah’s son Jahid Hasan Russel said, “We are not satisfied with the verdict as some convicts have been acquitted”.Ahsanullah Master, a politician of Tongi and AL MP from Gazipur, was shot dead on May 7, 2004, in a local meeting at Noagaon MA Majid Mia High School ground.
