Zubair murder: HC confirms death for 5, acquits 4

The High Court today confirmed the death sentence of five Bangladesh Chhatra League activists for killing Jahangirnagar University student Zubair Ahmed.

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The death row convicts are: Khandaker Ashiqul Islam alias Ashiq of philosophy department; Rashidul Islam Raju, Khan Mohammad Rais alias Sohan and Zahid Hasan of zoology and Mahabub Akram of government and politics department.

The High Court also upheld the life term imprisonment of two convicts and acquitted four others, who were sentenced to life term imprisonment by the trial court three years ago.

They are: Avinondon Kundu Avi, Md Kamruzzaman alias Sohag, Md Majharul Islam and Md Shafiul Alam alias Setu.

The bench of Justice Bhabani Prasad Singha and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam delivered the verdict after hearing death reference and appeals of the case.

Zubair Ahmed, an honours final-year student of English department at Jahangirnagar University, was tortured and stabbed by some Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on January 8, 2012. He succumbed to his injuries in a Dhaka hospital the following day.

Son of Tofael Ahmed of Patuakhali's Khepupara, Zubair belonged to the BCL group opposing the faction allegedly blessed by the then VC Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir.

On February 8, 2015, the Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 of Dhaka sentenced the five to death in the murder case.

If a lower court sentences any person to death in a case, its judgement is examined by the HC through hearing arguments for confirmation of the death sentence. The case documents and judgement reach as death reference to the HC from the lower court in seven days after the latter delivers the verdict.

Family not satisfied over acquittal of 4

Family members of Zubair expressed their dissatisfaction over the acquittal of four accused, who were awarded life term imprisonment by a lower court earlier.

“I am not satisfied over the verdict as four of the accused were acquitted,” Zubair's father Tofael Ahmed of Kalapara upazila in Patuakhali told our local correspondent.

The retired navy man Tofael said, “I hope, I will get proper justice in the appellate division.”