Appeal verdict of Ahsanullah Master killing any day

The appeal hearing of Awami League lawmaker Ahsanullah Master has ended. Now, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court will announce the verdict any day.

The Appellate Division, led by the Chief Justice, on Monday kept the case pending for judgment following the conclusion of arguments.

Senior lawyers SM Shahjahan and Adv Mohammad Shishir Monir represented the accused, while Additional Attorney General Muhammad Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan appeared for the state.

Ahsan Ullah Master, a freedom fighter, teacher and labour leader, was elected as a member of parliament from Gazipur-2 in 1996 and 2001.

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

The speedy trial tribunal delivered its verdict in the murder case on April 16, 2005, sentencing 22 accused, including BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarker, to death and six others to life imprisonment. Two of the convicts sentenced to death later died.

Following the trial court verdict, the death references and jail appeals were sent to the High Court in 2005. The accused also filed appeals challenging the verdict.

After hearings, 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 accused and life imprisonment of two others. The sentences of seven accused were reduced, while 11 others were acquitted.

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