HC confirms death penalty of 5 for killing AL man

The High Court today confirmed death sentence of five people for killing an Awami League (AL) man in 2006.

The five are: Mohammad Shahdat Hossain, Md Mintu, Masudur Rahman Tota, Liton Hossain Lotus, and Noman Ibne Bashar.

The five death row convicts were directly involved in killing Hazi Moniruddin Monu, who was a member of ward no. 12 unit of AL in Mirpur of Dhaka, on August 15, 2006, the HC said while delivering the verdict.

The HC commuted the death penalty of two convicts -- Mahinur Rahman Sohel and Md Hasan Sarwar -- to life imprisonment and upheld life imprisonment of another convict Mosammat Jahanara in the case.

Shahdat, Mintu, Masudur and Jahanra are now absconding while the other four convicts --Mahinur, Noman, Liton and Sarwar -- are in jail, Deputy Attorney General Bashir Ahmed told The Daily Star.

The HC bench of Justice Bhabani Prasad Singha and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam came up with verdict after hearing the appeals and petitions filed by the convicts challenging the lower court verdict against them.

Eight extortionists gunned down Monu in Mirpur-12 on August 15, 2006 after a programme organised on the occasion of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's death anniversary as he had refused to pay Tk 1 crore in toll in the same year.

Monu's elder brother Akbar Ali filed a murder case with Mirpur Police Station against Shahdat, Mintu and four to five unknown assailants.