HC verdict in 7-murder case tomorrow

The High Court is set to deliver its verdict on the death references and appeals in the sensational Narayanganj seven-murder cases tomorrow.

The bench of Justice Bhabani Prasad Singha and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam will deliver the verdict as the items are the first in its cause list for tomorrow.

On July 26, the judges fixed the day for announcing the judgment after hearing arguments from the state and the defence counsels on 33 dates.

If a lower court sentences a person to death, the judgment is examined by the HC through hearing arguments for confirming the sentence.

During the hearing on the death references and appeals in Narayanganj seven murder cases, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam prayed to the HC to uphold the trial court verdict, in which 26 people, including 16 former Rapid Action Battalion members, were sentenced to death and nine others jailed.

Defence counsels --Advocate Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury, Advocate SM Shahjahan, Advocate SM Abdul Mobin and Advocate Ahsan Ullah -- argued defending the accused.

Citing different grounds, they prayed for acquittal of their clients.

On January 16, a Narayanganj court found 35 people, including 25 former Rab officials and expelled ruling Awami League man Nur Hossain, guilty of abducting and murdering seven people and destroying evidence in April 2014.

Bodies of the seven victims, including Narayanganj City Corporation councillor Nazrul Islam and senior lawyer Chandan Sarker, were found floating in the Shitalakkhya river after they were abducted on April 27, 2014.