Our Correspondent, Kushtia
Verdict in Jatyia Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) president and freedom fighter Kazi Aref Ahmed murder case could not be executed 10 years into the killing as the appeal hearing of the case remains pending with the Appellate Division.
Kazi Aref along with four leaders of JSD Kushtia district unit was killed by an armed gang at a rally at Kalidaspur village under Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia on February 16.1999.
The four other slain leaders were JSD Kushtia unit president Lokman Hossain, general secretary Yakub Ali, local JSD leaders Shamser Ali and Israil Hossain.
The then additional district and sessions judge Fajlur Rahman pronounced the verdict in the case on August 30, 2004, sentencing 10 people to death and 12 others to life imprisonment.
Later, a high court bench upheld the lower court judgment, acquitting two of the murder charge.
After the High Court judgment, an appeal petition was filed with the Supreme Court, which is yet to fix the date for hearing on the petition.
Those awarded death penalty are Ilias Hossain and Sahir Uddin of Talbaria, Baker of Kishorinagar, Mannan Mollah of Pachavita, Anwar Hossain, Rasedul Islam Jhantu and Jahan Ali of Kursha, Jalal of Bailashisha, Safayat Hossain of Rajnagar, Kushtia, and Rowsan of Bhabanipur, Meherpur.
Of them, Mannan Mollah, Jahan, Jalal and Baker have been absconding while Rowsan was killed in a ‘shootout’ with police on August 27, 2006.
The convicts with life imprisonment are Nuruzzaman Laltu of Kairadanga of Chuadanga district, Rofat, Asgar and Mohit of Talbaria, Faraz, Tashar and Garesh Sardar of Kalidaspur, Majid of Hridoypur, Mahtab of Rajnagar, Oliar of Pagla, Akubbar of Malihad and Tikka of Kursha, Kushtia.
Of them, Mahtab, Oliar and Akubbar are absconding while Mohit was killed in ‘crossfire’ with police on February 12, 2005.
Meanwhile, JSD Kushtia unit will pay homage to their slain leaders today by holding different programmes. The programmes include silent procession, rally and discussion meeting.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
