HC commutes death of convicts

The death sentences of two convicts in the sensational murder case of journalist Farhad Khan was commuted to life imprisonment by the High Court yesterday.

Deputy Attorney General Moniruzzaman Rubel told The Daily Star that the death sentences of the convicts -- Nazimuzzaman Yon and Razu Ahmed -- were commuted to life imprisonment as the two were very young when they murdered journalist Farhad Khan and his wife Rahima Khanam. The court also took it into consideration that the convicts have been in jail since 2011. 

However, the government will move an appeal before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, seeking tougher punishment for the convicts, Moniruzzaman added.

The HC bench of justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin delivered the judgment after hearing the death reference and appeals filed by Yon and Razu in the case challenging the lower court verdict.

On January 28, 2011, Farhad Khan, 60, senior assistant editor of Bangla daily Janata, and his wife Rahima Khanam, 55, were killed in their rented flat in the capital's Nayapaltan area.

Farhad's younger brother Abdus Samad Khan later filed a case with Paltan Police Station accusing unknown persons for the killings.

On October 11, 2012, Judge ABM Sajedur Rahman of Speedy Trial Tribunal-3 of Dhaka handed down death sentences to Farhad's nephew Nazimuzzaman Yon and Razu Ahmad, a friend of Yon.

Challenging the verdict, Yon and Razu, who are currently in jail, filed separate appeals with the HC.

Advocate Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury and Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru represented Yon and Razu, while Deputy Attorney General Moniruzzaman Rubel represented the state.