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Download PDF A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced Khandaker Akhter Hamid Paban, son of Khaleda-appointed BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, and four others to 17 years’ rigorous imprisonment for possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
Following the verdict, Paban and his sister Luna Khandaker hurled abusive language at the judge saying that he had no right to sit in the judge’s chair and that he was a disgrace to the judiciary.
The other convicts are Anwar Hossain, Masud Ali alias Apu, Delwar Hossain alias Ratan and Paban’s cousin Nahid alias Mota Nahid.
Judge Mohammad Shafiul Azam of the Metropolitan Special Tribunal-12 handed down the sentence in presence of the convicts in a packed courtroom.
Even though Paban was arrested before on different dates for carjacking and attempted murder of a businessman, this is the first time he has been convicted of any crime.
As the judge announced the verdict, the other convicts who were standing in the dock broke down in tears and rejected the verdict.
Earlier, the prosecution and defence had completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 15 prosecution witnesses.
On October 29 last year, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Paban after raiding a Japan Garden City apartment in the city’s Mohammadpur area following information gathered from three of his partners-in-crime arrested earlier.
Acting upon information that criminals were preparing to hijack a taxicab, the Rab first apprehended Anwar and Masud from Dhaka Flood Protection Embankment at Panchabati near Pallabi with two illegal foreign-made firearms — a pistol and a revolver — along with nine bullets and a motorbike.
During interrogation, Anwar and Masud told Rab that they got the firearms from Delwar, who had obtained the arms from Paban’s cousin Nahid.
Following their statement, Rab arrested Delwar the same day from Pallabi. Delwar admitted that he had collected the firearms from Nahid. He also said that the firearms belonged to Paban — who often rented those out to criminals.
The Rab later to captured Paban from an apartment at Japan Garden City.
It was also stated in the case statement that the accused formed an organised armed gang led by Paban and carried out criminal activities throughout the city.
After investigation, Sub-Inspector Khairuzzaman of Pallabi Police Station pressed charges against Paban and others on November 21 last year.
On Tuesday, the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court issued arrest warrant against Paban for his involvement in a carjacking case.
Additional Public Prosecutor Kabir Hussain appeared for the state while advocates TM Akbar and Mohammad Hannan defended the accused.
MORE CASES AGAINST PABAN
Paban is accused in at least a dozen criminal cases including drug dealing, land grabbing, carjacking and extortion. His gang is known as “Batash Bahini” (wind gang) in Manikganj.
Paban was arrested two times before, but was released on bail.
In February 2005, police arrested Paban from near his house at Armanitola in the capital for vandalising a phone-fax shop and creating panic by firing at the shop owners.
On September 12, 2005, four cases were filed against Paban and one of his brothers, Dablu, with Ramna Police Station for forcefully taking possession of a large number of stores at Motaleb Plaza of Hatirpul.
The Detective Branch of police arrested Paban with a stolen Toyota Premio from Bailey Road area on June 7, 2006.
Paban and three others hijacked the vehicle from its owner at gunpoint in the Motijheel area in the capital on October 13, 2005.
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