The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has kept its verdict pending on appeals in the murder case of Awami League leader and former lawmaker Ahsanullah Master.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by the Chief Justice, concluded the appeal hearings on Monday and kept the judgment pending. The verdict is expected to be announced any day.
Senior lawyers SM Shahjahan and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir represented the accused, while Additional Attorney General Muhammad Abdul Jabbar Bhuiyan appeared for the state.
The appeal hearings in the case began on 28 July.
Ahsanullah Master, a freedom fighter, teacher and labour leader, was elected MP from the Gazipur-2 constituency in 1996 and 2001.
He was shot dead in broad daylight on 7 May, 2004, during a rally at the Noagaon MA Majid Mia High School field in Gazipur.
The Speedy Trial Tribunal delivered the first verdict in the case on 16 April 2005, sentencing 22 accused to death, including BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarkar.
Six others were sentenced to life imprisonment. Two of the death-row convicts later died.
Following the verdict, the case was sent to the High Court as a death reference, while the convicts filed appeals and jail appeals against the tribunal’s decision.
High Court verdict
A High Court bench comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath delivered its verdict on 15 June 2016 after completing hearings.
The High Court upheld the death sentences of six convicts and the life sentences of two others. It also commuted the sentences of seven convicts from death to life imprisonment and acquitted 11 people.
Those whose death sentences were upheld were Nurul Islam Sarkar, Nurul Islam Dipu, Mahbubur Rahman Mahbub, Shahidul Islam Shipu, Hafiz alias Kana Hafiz and Sohag alias Soru. Shahidul Islam Shipu later died at Kashimpur Jail on 4 January.
The life sentences of Tipu and Nurul Amin were upheld.
The sentences of Md Ali, Syed Ahmed Hossain Majnu, Anwar Hossain alias Anu, Ratan Mia alias Boro Mia Ratan, Jahangir alias Chhot Jahangir, Abu Salam alias Salam and Mashiur Rahman alias Monu were reduced from death to life imprisonment.
The High Court acquitted Amir Hossain, Jahangir alias Boro Jahangir, Faisal, Rony Mia alias Rony Fakir, Khokan, Lokman and Dulal Mia from death sentences.
It also acquitted Monir, Rokib Uddin Sarkar alias Pappu, Ayub Ali and Jahangir from life imprisonment.
The convicted individuals later filed appeals with the Appellate Division, the hearings of which have now concluded.
