Ahsanullah murder: Appeal hearing underway

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday began hearing the appeals in the murder case of the then Awami League lawmaker Ahsanullah Master.

The hearing began on Sunday (August 2) morning before a four-member Appellate Division bench headed by the Chief Justice.

A freedom fighter, teacher and labour leader, Ahsanullah Master was elected Member of Parliament from the Gazipur-2 constituency in the 1996 and 2001 general elections.

On May 7, 2004, he was shot dead in broad daylight while addressing a public rally at the MA Majid Mia High School ground in Noagaon, Gazipur.

On April 16, 2005, the Speedy Trial Tribunal delivered its verdict in the murder case, sentencing 22 accused, including BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarkar, to death and six others to life imprisonment. Two of the death-row convicts have since died.

Following the trial court's verdict in 2005, the death reference and jail appeals were sent to the High Court. The convicts also filed separate appeals challenging the judgment.

After hearing the appeals, a High Court bench comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath delivered its judgment on June 15, 2016.

The High Court upheld the death sentences of six convicts and the life imprisonment of two others. It also commuted the sentences of seven death-row convicts to life imprisonment and acquitted 11 accused.

The six whose death sentences were upheld are Nurul Islam Sarkar, Nurul Islam Dipu, Mahbubur Rahman Mahbub, Shahidul Islam Shipu (who died at Kashimpur Central Jail on January 4), Hafiz alias Kana Hafiz and Sohag alias Saru.

The life sentences of Tipu and Nurul Amin were also upheld.

The death sentences of seven convicts were commuted to life imprisonment. They are Md Ali, Syed Ahmed Hossain Majnu, Anwar Hossain alias Anu, Ratan Mia alias Boro Mia Ratan, Jahangir alias Chhoto Jahangir, Abu Salam alias Salam and Mashiur Rahman alias Monu.

The High Court acquitted Amir Hossain, Jahangir alias Boro Jahangir, Faisal, Roni Mia alias Roni Fakir, Khokon, Lokman and Dulal Mia, all of whom had previously been sentenced to death.

It also acquitted Monir, Rakib Uddin Sarkar alias Pappu, Ayub Ali and Jahangir, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Subsequently, the convicted accused filed appeals before the Appellate Division, leading to the hearing that began on Sunday.