HC to deliver appeal verdict today

The High Court is set to deliver today its verdict on the death reference and appeals in the case filed in connection with the assassination of Awami League lawmaker Ahsanullah Master in Tongi in May 2004.

The HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath on June 8 fixed today for giving the verdict.

Gunmen shot and killed Ahsanullah, also the president of Jatiya Shramik League, and Omar Faruq Ratan, a young man, and wounded 17 others in a staccato burst of fire at a biennial conference of Awami Swechchhasebak League, the AL's volunteers' front, at Noagaon near the legislator's house on May 7, 2004.

The lawmaker and others were about to leave when the gunmen led by pro-Jatiya Party Jatiya Chhatra Samaj leader Nurul Islam Dipu opened fire from behind the stage on the eastern side.

The Speedy Trial Tribunal-1, Dhaka on April 16, 2005 handed down death sentences to 22 people and life terms to six others.

Those sentenced to death are Nurul Islam Sarker, Nurul Islam Dipu, his brother Shahidul Islam Shipu, Mohammad Ali, Mahbubur Rahman Mahbub, Amir, Syed Ahmed Mojnu, Jahangir alias Boro Jahangir, Hafiz alias Kana Hafiz, Anwar Hossain alias Anu, Faisal, Jahangir (1), Sohag alias Shoru, Lokman Hossain alias Bulu, Al Amin, Ratan Mia alias Boro Mia, Roni Mia alias Roni Fakir, Ratan alias Chhoto Ratan, Abu Salam alias Salam, Moshiur Rahman alias Moshu, Khokon and Dulal Mia.

Those to serve life terms are Ohidul Islam Tipu, Monir, Rakibuddin Sarker alias Pappu Sarker, Ayub Ali, Jahangir (2) and Nurul Amin. The court also convicted them to two life terms, to run concurrently.

The death reference came to the HC within seven days after delivery of the lower court verdict.

Seventeen convicts later filed separate appeals with the HC challenging the conviction and sentences handed by the lower court.