Jhalakathi, May 29 (BDNEWS) – A court in Jhalakathi has sent JMB chief Shaekh Abdur Rahman, second-in-command Bangla Bhai and five other extremist leaders walk to the gallows for killing two judges in the district.
Additional district and sessions judge Tarique Reza Ahmed pronounced verdict in the judges' killing case in a crowded courtroom at 10:55am amidst tight security by RAB and police personnel Monday.
Five others awarded the capital punishment are Ataur Rahman Sunny, Abdul Awal, Khaled Saifullah, Asadur Rahman Arif and Iftekhar Hasan Al Mamun. Among them, Arif is absconding. The rest heard the judgement from the dock.
Another accused in the case, Sultan Hossain, was acquitted from the charge.
The court awarded the seven JMB leaders capital punishment as they were found guilty of killing senior assistant judges Sohel Ahmed and Jagannath Pande under section 120 (B) and 302 of the CrPC.
Shaekh Rahman and Bangla Bhai got capital punishment in a case for the first time after a number of cases were lodged against them since August 17, 2004 countrywide bombings.
The seven convicts can appeal before the High Court within seven days of the judgement.
As judge Tarique Reza said they will be provided with the copy of the judgement if they want to appeal, Shaekh Rahman said: The government had engaged us to invite the Alem community for establishing Islamic law. Now the government punished us by the worldly law. What punishment this government should receive?
Bangla Bhai and other accused were seen singing extremist songs.
Soon after the proclamation of the verdict, a medical team rushed to the chamber of the additional judge for his medical check-up.
As the judge earlier announced the date of pronouncement of the verdict, posters inscribing with slogans demanding capital punishment for the killers were pasted on the walls on the court premises. District bar association pasted the posters.
The relatives of the assassinated judges expressed satisfaction at the judgement.
"The killers must be hanged in public to show that no murderer is above the law," said Jyoti Pande, the widow of Jagannath Pande, demanding immediate execution of the verdict.
"I lost my husband, my kid lost father. We'll never be able to overcome the loss," she said adding "we'll get at least some consolation if the judgement is implemented as soon as possible."
Kanta, the widow of judge Sohel Ahmed, said: My demand is that the killers are hanged.
"I also appeal to the government so that Jhalakathi tragedy is not repeated anywhere of the country," she said.
PP Haider Hussain and plaintiff of the case, Sultan Ahmed, expressed satisfaction at the verdict.
Sohel Ahamad and Jagannath Pande, two senior assistant judge of Jhalakathi judgeship, were killed in a suicide bomb attack carried out by the militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) while they were going to the court by a microbus on November 14 last year.
Iftekhar Hasan Al Mamun, a member of the suicide squad, was arrested from the spot with critical injuries.
A peon of Jhalakathi judge court, Abdul Mannan, and a passer-by milk trader were also injured in the attack.
Sultan, a driver of the judgeship, filed two separate cases with Jhalakathi police station -- one in connection with the murders and another under explosives act.
Special ASP Munshi Atiqur Rahman of Criminal Investigation Department, who investigated into the case, submitted the chargesheet with Jhalakathi district and sessions judge court on March 21 accusing eight people.
The additional district judge took the case into cognisance in presence of the accused on April 18. The charge was framed on April 23 and 45 witnesses, out of 53, submitted witness accounts in eight working days from April 28 to May 8.
The court heard from the accused on May 15. The argument took place on May 18.
PP advocate Haider Hussain represented the state in the case while advocate Siddique Hossain was appointed by the state for the accused personnel.
However, the JMB leaders from the very beginning declined to receive assistance from the state defence. As they taunted and teased the state defence, he defended only one accused, Sultan Hossain of Krishnakathi area in Jhalakathi.
Sultan Hossain was acquitted from the charge.
Earlier in the explosives case, Barisal speedy trial tribunal awarded seven extremists, including Shaekh Abdur Rahman, Bangla Bhai, life-term imprisonment and 10-year rigorous imprisonment.
BDNEWS/1631 hrs
