7 Jmb Militants
Hearing of death reference case continues
Staff Correspondent
Hearing of the death reference case of seven militants including JMB kingpin Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai continued yesterday while the state counsel completed reading half of the 325-page paper book (history of the case). In the daylong hearing Deputy Attorney general (DAG) Helal Uddin Mollah read out the lower court's verdict (50 pages), FIR (First Information Report), charge sheet, charge framing, and deposition of 23 witnesses out of 44. The court will start again hearing from the paper book today afternoon. Advocates Khalilur Rahman Bhuiyan and Salehuddin -- state defence lawyers for the convicts -- were present at the court during the hearing yesterday. DAGs Abdus Salam Bhuiyan and Waliur Rahman and Assistant Attorney General Jamil Akhter Elahi were also present at the court for state side. "Considering the deposition of witnesses and circumstantial situation, the trial court delivered fair verdict competently. I hope this verdict can be considered for upheld," Helal Uddin Mollah told reporters after the completion of yesterday's hearing. A Barisal court on May 29 this year awarded death sentence to JMB chief Abdur Rahman, his deputy Bangla Bhai and five other militants in sensational Jhalakathi judges' killing case. The others to walk the gallows are JMB Majlish-e-Shura members Ataur Rahman Sunny, Abdul Awal and Khaled Saifullah, suicide bomber Iftekhar Hasan Al Mamun and Asadur Rahman Arif. Of them, Arif is still at large. None of the seven militants has appealed in the HC against the death sentence.
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