Trackback URL
Download PDF A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced 21 people to death in connection with the killing of Jubo Dal activist Sabbir Ahmed Talukder Gama of Naldanga in Natore in February 2004.
This is the second highest number of people receiving capital punishments for a single criminal case in Bangladesh.
However, the defence lawyers said a deputy minister influenced the judgement.
A group of leaders and activists of Naldanga upazila unit of Awami League (AL) on February 7, 2004 killed Gama, 26, also nephew of Deputy Minister for Land Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, following a political feud in the locality.
A Dhaka court on April 16 last year awarded death sentence to 22 people for assassinating AL lawmaker Ahsanullah Master in Tongi in Gazipur district in May 2004, the highest number of capital punishment awarded in a single criminal case in Bangladesh.
Judge Mohammad Firoz Alam of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-3 delivered the verdict in presence of five out of the 21 convicts at a packed courtroom.
The convicts are — Anisur Rahman, SM Firoz, Faruque Shah, Fazlul Haq Shah and SM Fakruddin Futu Master [the first five are brothers] and Zahirul Member, Faisal, Jahidul, Sentu, Sohag, Sajjad, Bablu, Akbar, Ashraf alias Rana, Abdul Jalil alias Shimul, Farmajul, Ataur Rahman alias Mobarak, Rahidul alias Rony, Abul Hossain and Shahjahan Ali.
Of them, Rana, Farmajul, Mobarak, Roni and Abul now in custody, were produced before the court during the delivery of the judgement while remaining 16 were given punishment in their absence. Thirteen convicts are of a joint family.
The punishment of the fugitives will be effective from the day of their arrest or surrender and they can appeal to the High Court against the judgement within 30 days from the day of receipt of the judgment, the judge said.
Victim’s parents Rafiqul Islam Talukder and Jahanara Begum and his paternal uncle Advocate Ruhul Amin Talukder Tagar were present in the court during the delivery of the verdict and expressed their satisfaction over the sentences.
Advocate Monzur Alam, who represented the five convicts in custody, told the reporters the victim was killed by a group of Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) men. But the family members filed the case against the local AL leaders and activists, as there was a political feud between the two parties.
The deputy minister influenced the judgement. His clients were victimised, even though it was a false, fabricated and concocted case. He will appeal to the higher court against the verdict, the lawyer added.
Following the incident, victim’s father filed a murder case with Naldanga Police Station against 16 people on the same day. The investigation officer (IO) pressed charges against 21 people, including five AL leaders and activists even though their names were not included in the FIR (first information report).
Later, the case was transferred to the Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal for quick disposal but the case was again shifted to the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-3 following a criminal appeal to the HC.
Comments are not moderated and only expresses personal views of visitors. BangladeshNews.com.bd is not responsible for commets posted by visitors.
Leave a Reply