Judge who gave verdict in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman assassination case dies

Dhaka’s former Sessions Judge Kazi Golam Rasul, who passed the verdict in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman assassination case, has died at the age of 72.

He passed away at the capital’s United Hospital around 9am on Thursday. He was undergoing treatment at the hospital, said its manager Sahedul Alam.

Kazi Golam Rasul was admitted to the hospital on Nov 27 following various health problems.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family were assassinated on Aug 15, 1975 by a group of disgruntled army officers.

Judge Kazi Golam condemned 15 people to death on Nov 8, 1998 for the killings.

He said in the verdict that a few junior officials and personnel of two army regiments were also involved in the killings.

Why Bangladesh Army has not tried to disarm or control them is inexplicable. The incident will forever be a shame to the nation, he also said.

The High Court gave a split verdict on the defence’s appeal on Dec 14, 2000. Justice Md Ruhul Amin upheld the death sentence of 10 convicts while Justice ABM Khairul Haque upheld the death penalty of all 15.

A third High Court Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim upheld death sentences of 12 of them while granting acquittal of three.

The Appellate Division rejected the appeals of five of the convicts on Nov 19, 2009 and executed them at the Dhaka Central Jail on Jan 28 next year.