Staff Reporter :
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a High Court order that acquitted 11 accused in the Awami League leader Ahsanullah Master killing case until July 14. Chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order upon a petition filed by the government. The full bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha will hold the next hearing on the petition that day, said Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.
The government filed the prayer to the Appellate Division seeking a stay order on acquittal of 11 convicts so that they are not freed before the full verdict of the case is released. The High Court on June 5 upheld a trial court verdict confirming death penalty for six persons and commuted capital punishment for seven others to life-term imprisonment and acquitted 11 from the charges of the high profile Ahsanullah murder case.
Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP, son of slain Ahsanullah Master, expressed disappointment at the verdict and decided to appeal to the Appellate Division.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam talking to the reporter in his office said that the acquitted 11 accused should not be released as many witnesses gave deposition against them as they were recognized on the day of killing of Ahsanullah Master. The killers were bearing weapons and were involved with the killing mission.
Those who have been acquitted are Amir Hossain, Boro Jahangir, son of Nur Hossain, Foysal (fugitive), Lokman Hossain Bulu, Rony Fakir (fugitive), Khokon (fugitive), Dulal Miah, Rakibuddin Sarkar alias Pappu Sarkar, Ayub Ali, Jahangir, son of Meher Ali and Monir.
Gunmen killed Ahsanullah Master, a freedom fighter in a rally of Swechchhasebok League, a pro-AL body at Noagaon in Tongi on May 7, 2004.
Victim’s brother Matiur Rahman filed a case with Tongi Police Station against 17 people. A speedy trial tribunal sentenced 22 people, including BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarkar, to death and six others to life-term imprisonment on April 16, 2005. Of them, two convicts died during the trial proceedings, while 17 are currently behind the bar and nine others are on the run.
