UNB, Dhaka :
The Supreme Court on Monday released the full text of its verdict commuting the death penalty of two convicts to imprisonment until death with an observation that ‘life imprisonment means sentence until death’.
The copy of the 92-page full verdict was released after all four members of the Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, signed the judgment.
The Chief Justice has written the verdict while three other judges-Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique and Justice Mirza Hussain Haider agreed with the verdict.
Talking to reporters, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said it will be same for all the explanation of any law and
now it will be applicable for all that life imprisonment means sentence until death’.
The court said in its observation that a sentence of death awarded to an offender Under Section 302 of the Penal Code is the rule and life imprisonment is an exception, and the court may commute death sentence to life imprisonment of a prisoner on extenuating circumstances and in that case it must assign reasons therefore.
If the High Court Division or this court commutes a sentence of death to imprisonment for life and direct that the prisoner shall have to suffer rest of his natural life, such type of 90 cases would be beyond the application of remission, added the observation.
In exercise of power under Article 49 of the Constitution, the President has power to grant pardon, reprieves and respite and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence even after the commutation of sentence by this court or the High Court Division, said in the observation.
On February 14, the Supreme Court commuted the death penalty of two convicts to imprisonment until death with an observation that ‘life imprisonment means sentence until death’.
The two convicted accused are Ataur Mridha and Anwar.
On December 16, 2001, Zaman Yeasmin was shot to death by some miscreants in Savar.
Police submitted chargesheet against three people-Anwar, Ataur Mridha and Kamrul on July 27, 2002.
On October 15, 2003, a Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced them to death. Of them, Anwar and Ataur filed appeals challenging their death penalty.
The Supreme Court on Monday released the full text of its verdict commuting the death penalty of two convicts to imprisonment until death with an observation that ‘life imprisonment means sentence until death’.
The copy of the 92-page full verdict was released after all four members of the Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, signed the judgment.
The Chief Justice has written the verdict while three other judges-Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique and Justice Mirza Hussain Haider agreed with the verdict.
Talking to reporters, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said it will be same for all the explanation of any law and
now it will be applicable for all that life imprisonment means sentence until death’.
The court said in its observation that a sentence of death awarded to an offender Under Section 302 of the Penal Code is the rule and life imprisonment is an exception, and the court may commute death sentence to life imprisonment of a prisoner on extenuating circumstances and in that case it must assign reasons therefore.
If the High Court Division or this court commutes a sentence of death to imprisonment for life and direct that the prisoner shall have to suffer rest of his natural life, such type of 90 cases would be beyond the application of remission, added the observation.
In exercise of power under Article 49 of the Constitution, the President has power to grant pardon, reprieves and respite and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence even after the commutation of sentence by this court or the High Court Division, said in the observation.
On February 14, the Supreme Court commuted the death penalty of two convicts to imprisonment until death with an observation that ‘life imprisonment means sentence until death’.
The two convicted accused are Ataur Mridha and Anwar.
On December 16, 2001, Zaman Yeasmin was shot to death by some miscreants in Savar.
Police submitted chargesheet against three people-Anwar, Ataur Mridha and Kamrul on July 27, 2002.
On October 15, 2003, a Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced them to death. Of them, Anwar and Ataur filed appeals challenging their death penalty.
