HC upholds death of two, life term of six others

The High Court yesterday confirmed the death sentence of two accused and upheld the life imprisonment of six others for killing Kamrul Islam Momin, a student of Dhaka Commerce College, in 2005.

Momin, 22, was shot dead near his Ibrahimpur residence in the capital on September 13, 2005.

The HC exempted the then Officer-in-Charge of Motijheel Police Station AKM Rafiqul Islam, who was sentenced to death by the trial court, from the murder case, as he has already died.

The two condemn convicts Shakhawat Hossain Jewel and Tareq alias Zia were tried in absentia.

The six lifers are: Monir Howlader, Hasibul Haque Johnny, Mohammad Zafar, Mohammad Sharifuddin, Habibur Rahman Taj and Thoth Ucha Babu.

Among the six, Habibur and Babu are in jail and the others are absconding.

The HC bench of Justice Bhabani Prasad Singha and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam delivered the verdict after hearing the death reference of the case and the appeals filed by Habibur and Babu challenging the trial court verdict.

Assistant Attorney General Bashir Ahmed told The Daily Star that the HC affirmed the conviction and sentences of the accused as the allegations brought against them of their involvement in killing Momin have been proved beyond reasonable doubt.

On July 20, 2011, the Speedy Trial Tribunal-4, Dhaka, had sentenced then OC Rafiqul, Shakhawat and Tareq to death and life imprisonment to six others in the murder case.

Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humanyn, Advocate Sheikh Baharul Islam, Advocate Touhidur Rahman and state appointed lawyer Shafiqur Rahman appeared for the convicts.