The Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 of Dhaka on Wednesday sentenced eight to death and awarded life-term imprisonment to 13 others in the much-talked-about and sensational Biswajit murder case.Judge ABM Nizamul Haq of the court started pronouncing the verdict against the 21 accused at about 12.20 noon and that ended at 1 pm.
Of the convicts thirteen are on the run, while the other 8 are under the jail custody. The death sentenced convicts are Rafiqul Islam Shakil, Mahfuzur Rahman Nahid, Emdadul Haque Emdad, GM Rashiduzzaman Shaon, Saiful Islam, Quaiyum Mia, Razon Talukder and Mir Nur-e-Alam Limon. They are activists and leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Jagannath University.
The 13 life-term awarded convicts were also fined Tk 20,000 each. They are Kibria, Golam Mostafa, and fugitives Khandaker Md Yunus Ali, Tarik bin Johr Tomal, Alaudddin, Obaidul Quader Tahsin, Imran Hossain Imran, Azizur Rahman Aziz, Al Amin Sheikh, Rafiqul Islam, Monirul Haque Pavel, Kamrul Hasan,and Mosharrrf Hossain.
Of the accused detained 8 were produced to the court on the occasion. They are Shakil, Nahid, Emdad, Shaon, AHM Kibria, Saiful Islam, Quaiyum and Golam Mostafa.
The fugitives are Alauddin, Obaidul Quader Tahsin, Imran Hossain, Khandoker Md Yunus Ali, Tarique BinZohor, AzizurRahman, Al Amin Sheikh, Monirul Haque Pavel, Mosharraf Hossain, Kamrul Hasan, Rafiqul Islam and death awarded Razon and, Limon.
Biswajit’s elder brother Uttam Kumar Das told the reporters, he was satisfied with the verdict and demanded immediate execution of the verdict. He commented, the 13 fugitive convicts should be arrested soon. He informed the newsmen that his parents in their village home are still weeping for Biswajit and there is nothing in the world which could satisfy them, as Biswajit has no substitute to them.
Meanwhile, the lawyer of convict Mostafa told this correspondent that his client had no involvement with the murder and the prosecution also could not prove his involvement. Only thing is that, an accused in his confessional statement mentioned his client’s name, the lawyer added.
The lawyer of death sentenced convict Emdad told newsmen that inhuman torture of police compelled his client to make confessional statement admitting his involvement with the murder.
Biswajit was hacked to death by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on Dec 9 last year near the Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka during a strike called by the BNP-led 18-Party alliance.
Sutrapur Police Station Sub-Inspector Jalal Ahmed filed the case accusing 25 unknown people.
The case was transferred to Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 from the Dhaka District Judge’s Court earlier this year for speedy trial.
After hearing the final arguments on Dec 4, the court had set Wednesday for delivering the verdict.
The eight who have been awarded death sentence are Rafiqul Islam Shakil, Mahfuzur Rahman Nahid, Emdadul Haque Emdad, GM Rasheduzzaman Shawon, Saiful Islam, Kaium Mia, Rajon Talukder and Mir Nur-e Alam Limon. Talukder and Limon are absconding.
Those who have been awarded life sentences are Golam Mostofa, AHM Kibria, Yunus Ali, Tarik Bin Johor Tomal, Alauddin, Obaidur Qader Tahsin, Imran Hossain, Azizur Rahman, Al-Amin, Rafiqul Islam, Kamrul Hasan, Monirul Haque Pavel and Mosharraf Hossain. Only Mostofa and Kibria are absconding.
Bdnews24.com adds: Biswajit’s cousin Apu Das told journalists: “Several days have passed. If they cannot be arrested after committing murder, what are police doing? If police are sincere, how can the accused still be on the run?”
However, Tajul Islam said: “There are arrest warrants against the 13 fugitives. Those have been sent to all police stations. We are in constant touch with the police stations to catch them.”
Asked whether they are receiving any threats from the fugitives, Biswajit’s brother Uttam Kumar Das said that was not true.
He said, “They [accused] are not scared as they already know that nobody will try to arrest them. Why would they threaten us if they are not facing arrests?”
