Full High Court verdict in Ahsanullah Master murder published

The High Court has published the full verdict about the murder of Gazipur's Awami League MP Ahsanullah Master.

The 182-page full verdict was published on Supreme Court's website on Wednesday.

The summery verdict upholding death sentence of six, including BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarkar, was pronounced on June 15.

The High Court also acquitted 11 accused, who had been convicted to death or life in prison by a Speedy Trial Tribunal.

The State could manage a stay order on the verdict initially but the regular bench lifted it. The legal bar on the release of the acquitted persons was lifted by an Appellate Division decision of July 17.

Now after the publication of the full verdict, any aggrieved party can petition for appeal against the verdict.

The family and supporters of Ahsanullah in Gazipur expressed dissatisfaction over the acquittal of the 11 convicts.

Death-row convicts Nurul Islam Sarkar, Nurul Islam Dipu and Shahidul Islam Shipu.

Ahsanullah, a freedom fighter, had served as the Gazipur Upazila council chairman before being elected to the parliament in 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, 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, filed 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.

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.

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’.