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Download PDF A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced two men to death, nine to 43 years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) each and a former Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) ward commissioner to 13 years’ in jail in the sensational Lalbagh seven-murder case.
Judge ATM Musa of Public Safety Disturbance Crime Prevention Tribunal delivered the verdict at a packed courtroom in the morning, 14 years after the case had been filed.
The complainant, victims’ family members and people of the locality, however, rejected the verdict and demonstrated on the court premises demanding capital punishment for DCC Ward Commissioner Abdul Aziz, the prime accused in the case.
The two condemned to death are Abdus Salam alias Moti and Zahid Hossain alias Natka Babu.
Meanwhile, Abdul Alim alias Shaheen, Monir Patwary, Munna, Kalu alias Kailla, Delwar Hossain alias “Aunda”, Deel Mohammad alias Moti, Mahatab Hossain, Mozammel Hossain and Amir Hossain were given 43 years’ each in jail.
DCC Ward Commissioner Abdul Aziz was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.
Of the convicts, Abdus Salam, Zahid Hossain, Deel Mohammmad, Monir, Mahatab and Mozammel are on the run and were tried in absentia.
Their punishment will be effective from the day of their arrest or surrender, the judge said.
Swapan, Faruk, Abul Hossain, Jabed, Selim, Sattar, Joynal and Afsar Hossain were acquitted on the charge, as their involvement was not proved.
Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 37 prosecution witnesses.
According to the prosecution, a group of criminals led by the defeated ward commissioner Abdul Aziz attacked the victory procession of his rival, the winning candidate Humayun Kabir, at about 10:30am on January 31, 1994.
They fired on the procession killing seven and leaving several others injured. The victims are Delwar, Gazi, Nazrul, Anwar, Hafiz, Aziz and Shah Alam.
Humayun Kabir, elected Ward Commissioner of Ward No 59, filed a murder case against Abdul Aziz and 23 others with the Lalbagh police the same day.
In the past 14 years, the case was transferred to three courts for trial.
REACTION OF THE COMPLAINANT
Complainant Humayun Kabir expressed his dissatisfaction over the verdict, saying that Abdul Aziz was the prime accused in the case, but he was given 13 years’ in jail.
He would appeal against the judgement with the higher court, Kabir added.
Talking to The Daily Star, Babul, brother of victim Hafiz, Mojibur, brother of slain Nazrul, and Iqbal and Sumon, brother and son of victim Delwar, expressed disappointment over the verdict.
They were present at the court yesterday.
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