Five JMB cadres sentenced to death eight years after killing of Jhalakathi public prosecutor Haidar

A trial court in Jhalakathi on Wednesday sentenced five cadres of Jamiatul Mujahidine Bangladesh (JMB) accused for killing Jhalakathi district public prosecutor Haidar Hossain 8-year ago.
Muhammad Abdul Halim, additional district and session judge of Jhalakathi, handed down this verdict in presence of 3 accused, while 2 others remained absconding till announcement of the verdict.The verdict was announced after examining 56 witnesses and other evidences.None of the family members of the victim was present in the court during announcing the verdict.Tarek Ibne Haidar, the only son of killed PP Haider and complainant of the case, after contacting over mobile phone expressing satisfaction of him and family members demanded speedy execution of the verdict and erecting a memorial monument at the killing spot.The death sentenced accused five JMB cadres were Bellal Hossain( absconding) and Abu Sahadat Md. Tanvir alias Mehedi Hasan of Barguna, Murad Hossain of Khulna, Sagir Hossain (absconding) and Amir Hossain of Dhaka.Advocate M Alam Khan Kamal, additional public prosecutor of Jhalakathi pleaded for the state, while Advocate Luthfar Rahman was for 3 accused under custody and Advocate Manjur Rahman was state defense for rest 2 absconding accused.The prosecution story in brief was JMB activists gunned down Public Prosecutor Advocate Haidar Hussain on April 11, 2007 night in front of Gorosthan mosque near his residence on way to home after performing night prayer.PP Haidar was leading the prosecution against seven topmost JMB leaders accused for killing Jagonnath Pandey and Shahid Sohel Ahmed, two judges of Jhalakati district judge courtship, on November 14, 2005.Shaekh Abdur Rahman, Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai, Ataur Rahman Sani, younger brother of Shaeikh Rahman, Abdul Awal Molla alias Omar alias Shakil Ahmed, son in law of Shaeikh Rahman, Amjad Hossain alias Khalid Saifullah, as master minder, Iftekhar Hassan Al Mamun and absconding Asadul Islam alias Arif as executors awarded death sentences by the trial court in Jhalakathi on May 29, 2006 for killing of two judges.Then JMB cadres declared ultimatum to kill PP Haidar within a month of execution of their leaders.
Death sentences of first six top most JMB leaders and activists were executed on March 29, 2007 in four prisons of the country at Comilla, Mymensingh, Kasimpur and Pabna under extreme secrecy and security.JMB cadres killed PP Haidar on April 11, 2007, 13 days after execution of death sentences of their six out of seven JMB leaders accused in that case.Tarek Ibne Haidar, the only son of killed PP Haider, filed a murder case on April 12, 2007 with Jhalakathi Sadar police station without mentioning name of any accused.Murad Hossain of Khulna, Abu Sahadat Md. Tanvir alias Abir alias Mehedi alias Mushfik and Md. Billal Hossain, of Barguna, MD. Badiruddin alias Amirul Islam alias Amir alias Halkhat alias Hiron alias Milad and Sagir Hossain Bhuiya of Dhaka were charged for the killing.
Mosharraf Hossain, the fifth investigation officer and inspector of criminal investigation department of Pirojpur, submitted the charge sheet against those 5 JMB cadres on January 17, 2010, thirty-three months after the killing of PP Haidar.The charge sheet was based the confessional statement of one of the five accused Murad Hossain recorded on July 5, 2007 and other evidences.Advocate M Alam Khan Kamal, additional public prosecutor of Jhalakathi additional district judge court, said after hearing and charge framing of PP Haidar murder case, it sent to Barisal Speedy Trial Tribunal on November 30,2010 and examination of 55 out 57 witnesses completed there.
The case sent to Jhalakathi district judge court on June 26, 2011 for continuing trial as the trial-tenure of 135-day at the tribunal ended.Then the trial of the case resumed on July 12, 2011 at Jhalakathi first additional district judge court. Nalchity(Jhalakati) Correspondent