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A Sylhet court on Thursday sentenced one person to death in a case filed over the attempted assassination of late Awami League leader and former minister Suranjit Sengupta, while acquitting nine others, including former minister Lutfozzaman Babar and several prominent political figures.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Swapan Kumar Sarkar of the Sylhet Speedy Trial Tribunal.
The convicted man, Hafiz Naim, identified as a member of the banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad, was awarded the death penalty.
The court, however, acquitted nine accused, including former Sylhet City Mayor and former Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury, former Habiganj Municipality Mayor and former government whip G.K. Gaus, and former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar.
The case stems from a bomb attack on a public rally at Dirai Bazar in Sunamganj in 2004. Suranjit Sengupta was delivering his speech as the chief guest when the explosion occurred. One person was killed and at least 29 others were injured in the attack.
Following the investigation, charge sheets were submitted at different times against several individuals, including Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Lutfozzaman Babar and G.K. Gaus. The court later framed charges against them, and the accused subsequently secured bail.
During the hearing held in April this year, the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed innocence. After concluding arguments from both sides, the tribunal delivered its judgment on Thursday, according to the court's bench assistant.
TZ
