Ahsan Ullah Master murder case appeal hearing ends, verdict any day
Ahsan Ullah, a freedom fighter, teacher, and labour leader, was elected MP from the Gazipur-2 constituency in 1996 and 2001.
The Appellate Division today (7 September) finished the appeal hearing against the High Court verdict in the murder case of Awami League leader and former MP Ahsan Ullah Master and left the verdict pending.
After the hearing, a bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury issued a Curia advisari vult (CAV), which means the judgment can be delivered on any day.
Additional Attorney General Muhammad Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan represented the state while senior lawyers SM Shahjahan and Mohammad Shishir Monir appeared for the accused.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Ahsan Ullah, a freedom fighter, teacher, and labour leader, was elected MP from the Gazipur-2 constituency in 1996 and 2001.
He was shot dead in public at a rally on 7 May 2004 at the grounds of Noagaon MA Majid Mia High School in Gazipur.
A Speedy Trial Tribunal delivered its verdict in the murder case on 16 April 2005, sentencing BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarkar and 21 others to death and six others to life imprisonment. Two of the death-row convicts later passed away.
Following the trial court verdict, death references and jail appeals were sent to the High Court in 2005, while the convicts also appealed against their convictions.
On 15 June 2016, the High Court bench comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath upheld the death sentences of six convicts and life imprisonment for two, reduced the sentences of seven, and acquitted 11.
The six whose death sentences were upheld were Nurul Islam Sarkar, Nurul Islam Dipu, Mahbubur Rahman Mahbub, Shahidul Islam Shipu (who died in jail), Hafiz alias "Kana Hafiz", and Sohag alias Saru.
The High Court upheld life imprisonment for Tipu and Nurul Amin.
The seven whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment were 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.
Those acquitted of the charge of carrying death sentences or life imprisonment were Amir Hossain, Jahangir alias "Boro Jahangir", Faisal, Rony Mia alias Rony Fakir, Khokon, Lokman, Dulal Mia, Monir, Rakib Uddin Sarker alias Pappu, Ayub Ali, and Jahangir.
The convicted accused subsequently filed appeals against the High Court verdict.
