The High Court today upheld death penalty of six persons who were convicted earlier by a trail court of assassinating Awami League lawmaker Ahsanullah Master in Tongi on the outskirts of Dhaka in 2004.

The HC also sentenced nine convicts to life term imprisonment and acquitted 11 others in the case.

On May 7, 2004, gunmen shot and killed Ahsanullah, also the president of Jatiya Sramik League, and Omar Faruq Ratan, a young man, and wounded 17 others in a staccato burst of fire at a biennial conference of Awami Shechchhasebak League, the AL's volunteers' front, at Noagaon near the legislator's house in Tongi.

On April 16, 2005, a Dhaka court gave death sentences to 22 people and life terms to six others for killing Ahsanullah and also similar punishments to the same convicts for gunning down Ratan.

6 awarded death penalty

Six persons, who were awarded death penalty, are Nurul Islam Sarker, Nurul Islam Dipu, Mahabubur Rahman, Shahidul Islam Shipu, Hafiz alias Kana Hafiz and Sohag alias Shoru.

9 get life sentence

The High Court commuted capital punishment to life term to seven convicts. They are: Mohammad Ali, Syed Ahmed Majnu, Anwar Hossain Anu, Ratan Mia alias Boro Ratan, Abu Salam, Moshiur Rahman Moshu and Jahangir, son of Kashem Matbor.

The court upheld the life sentence handed to Nurul Amin. It also upheld the life term to Ohidul Islam Tipu as he did not file appeal petition with the HC.

Besides, the appeals made by two other accused -- Al Amin and Ratan alias Chhoto Ratan  -- were disposed of as they died during the hearing on their appeals filed challenging their death penalty awarded by the lower court.

11 acquitted; Family reacts

A total of 11 convicted have been acquitted by the High Court. They are Amir, Jahangir alias Boro Jahangir, Rakibuddin Sarker alias Pappu Sarker, Aiub Ali, Faisal, Lokman Hossain Bulu, Rony Fakir, Khokon, Dulal Mia, Monir, and Jahangir, son of Meher Ali.

Ahsanullah’s son Jahid Hasan Russel said, “We are not satisfied with the verdict as several convicts have been acquitted”.

“We will appeal after receiving full text of the verdict,” Russel, also the lawmaker of Gazipur-2 constituency, added.