Narayanganj verdict will dispel fear: law minister

The verdict in the 2014 Narayanganj multiple murder case will ‘dispel the fear' among the people, said Law Minister Anisul Huq.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 16 Jan 2017, 09:09 AM
Updated : 16 Jan 2017, 10:16 AM

“I believe the verdict will satisfy the people and will dispel the fear this horrendous crime has created,” the law minister told reporters at the Secretariat on Monday, after the verdict was announced.

The court sentenced former Narayanganj councillor Nur Hossain, three former RAB officials and 22 others to death. The other nine suspects have been given various prison sentences.

A death sentence requires a report on the verdict be submitted to the High Court within a week, said the law minister.

If the High Court upholds the verdict, one can still appeal to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. If the sentences are upheld, then they will be carried out.

“If suspects are found guilty of such atrocities, the first punishment is hanging. If mitigation or other relevant reason is presented, then the verdict can be commuted to a life sentence in prison.”

“The court has considered the heinous nature of the crimes and the conspiracy to commit them and has ordered death for 26 of the suspects.”

Twenty-five of the 35 suspects accused in the case were officers of law enforcing agencies.

The case report says that Councillor Nazrul Islam was killed over a struggle for power with Councillor Nur Hossain. The RAB officers involved in the murder were paid off to commit the crime.

“It is the duty of the state to bring whoever commits a crime to justice,” said Anisul Huq. “I believe we have fulfilled that duty today.”

“You have to remember – no one was deposed for 21 years after the assassination of the father of the nation. You must admit that

now, in the same country, we have a rule of law.”

Asked whether structural changes were necessary for law enforcement, the law minister said: “Many ministries are in charge of such forces. They must consider such changes.”