Staff Reporter :
The High Court upheld the death penalty for five members of banned organization Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) for killing a public prosecutor of Jhalakathi, advocate Haider Hossain, in 2007.
The convicts are— Murad Hossain of Khulna, Tanvir Hasan alias Mehedi Hasan and Belal Hossain of Barguna, and Amir Hossain and Sagir Hossain of Dhaka.
The High Court bench of Justice Soumendra Sarker and Justice Shahed Nuruddin delivered the verdict on February 9 after holding hearing on the death references and appeals filed by the convicts.
Deputy attorney general Bashir Ahmed who appeared in the court on behalf of the death references said accused Murad, Sagir, Amir Hossain and Tanveer filed appeal petition with the High Court and another accused Belal Hossain is absconding.
The court concluded the hearing on February 2 and fixed February 9 for delivering the verdict. On that day the court delivered the verdict accepting the death references and rejected the appeal petitions filed by the accused seeking acquittal from the charges.
Advocate SM Mahbubul Islam appeared in the court on behalf of Murad, advocate SM Shahjahan appeared for Amir Hossain and advocate Md Kamal Hossain appeared for Sagir Hossain. Advocate Md Asadur Rahman appeared in the court as a state-appointed lawyer for the accused Belal Hossaina nd Md Tanvir Hasan.
The court upheld the death penalty as the allegations brought against the five were proven beyond doubt, said deputy attorney general Bashir Ahmed.
He said the convicts could now move appeal before the Appellate Division of Supreme Court against the HC verdict. The execution of the HC verdict would remain suspended if they file the appeal with the SC, added DAG Bashir.
The lawyers of the accused said that they would take further decision after consulting with their clients.
Haider as a public prosecutor conducted a case filed against seven JMB members for killing two judges in Jhalakathi on November 14, 2005.
Judges Shaheed Sohel Ahmed and Jagannath Pandey were killed in a suicide bomb attack on their way to the court. Seven activists of the outlawed JMB were given capital punishment on May 29, 2006 and the verdict was executed on March 21, 2007.
The JMB in retaliation killed Haider when he was returning home from Jhalakathi Jail Mosque after offering Esha prayers on April 11, 2007.
On February 11, 2015, a Jhalakathi court gave capital punishment to the five JMB operatives in Haider Hossain murder case.
