High Court confirms death for six people in Ahsanullah Master murder

The High Court has upheld the death sentences of six persons for their involvement in the murder of Awami League leader Ahsanullah Master.

The bench of Justices Obaidul Hassan and Krishna Debnath on Wednesday gave its decision on death references and appeals of 28 convicts sentenced for the high-profile murder over a decade ago.

A Speedy Trial Tribunal in 2005 had handed down the death penalty to 22 people, including the main accused, BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarkar, and life in prison to six others for the killing.

Apart from retaining the maximum punishment to six, the High Court reduced the death penalty of seven to life imprisonment. It upheld the life in jail sentence of another.

Ahsanullah Master was shot dead while addressing a local conference near his home in Gazipur's Tongi. File photo

The High Court also acquitted 11 others, who were given either the death sentence or life in prison, after hearing their appeals against the sentences.

The life in prison sentence on another fugitive convict remained, as he did not appeal.

Two other accused had died during the case proceedings, leading to automatic exclusion of their names from the case.

Ahsanullah, a freedom fighter, had served as the Gazipur Upazila council chairman before being elected a lawmaker twice in the national polls of 1996 and 2001.

He was a member of the party’s national council and the executive president of the Awami League’s labour affiliate.

His son Zahid Ahsan Russel, who is now the MP from the constituency, on Wednesday, said they were not happy with the High Court’s verdict, and would appeal against the commuted sentences and acquittals.

However, former BNP MP Hasan Uddin Sarkar claimed his brother Nurul Islam Sarkar was ‘innocent’. He said he would also decide soon whether they would challenge Nurul Islam’s death penalty.

Ahsanullah Master, a popular Gazipur politician and then Awami League MP, was gunned down along with another person on May 7, 2004, while addressing a local conference held on a school ground at Tongi.

His younger brother, Matiur Rahman, started the murder case with Tongi police the next day.

Police submitted the chargesheet against 30 people on Jul 10 that year and they were indicted on Sep 28.

Altogether, State provided 38 witnesses and the defence only two.

A Speedy Trial Tribunal on Apr 16, 2005, handed down the death penalty to 22 and life in prison to six others. Two others were acquitted.

The death references of 22 death-row convicts were later sent to the High Court to be heard. Fourteen of them then challenged the trial court’s verdict.

The chief justice had sent the death references and appeals to the bench led by Justice Obaidul Hassan and the hearing started in January this year.

On Jun 8, after the 34th hearing, the court had fixed Jun 15 to deliver its verdict.

Who got what

Death penalty upheld
 
Nurul Islam Sarkar, Nurul Islam Dipu (fugitive), Mahbubur Rahman Mahbub, Shahidul Islam Shipu (fugitive), Hafiz alias Kana Hafiz (fugitive), ‘Sohag’ alias ‘Saru’.
 
Sentence reduced to life in prison
 
Md Ali, Syed Ahmed Hossain Mojnu (fugitive), Anwar Hossain alias Anu (fugitive), Ratan Mia alias Borho Mia (fugitive), ‘Jahangir’ (fugitive), Mashiur Rahman alias Mashu (fugitive), Abu Salam (fugitive).
 
Life in jail upheld
 
High Court rejected Nurul Amin’s appeal. The sentence on Ohidul Islam Tipu (fugitive) remained, as he did not appeal.
 
Dismissed
 
The court dismissed the case against Chhoto Ratan and Al Amin, who were given the death penalty, since they have died in the meantime.
 
Acquitted
 
Amir Hossain, ‘Jahangir’ alias Borho Jahangir, ‘Faysal’ (fugitive), Lokman Hossain alias Bulu (fugitive), Rony Mia (fugitive), ‘Khokon’ (fugitive), Dulal Mia (fugitive), Rakib Uddin Sarkar alias Pappu, Ayub Ali, ‘Jahangir’ and ‘Monir’.