7 get life term for killing AL leader

A court here yesterday sentenced seven people to life imprisonment for murdering AL leader Sardar Harunur Rashid in 2001.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (First Court) Didar Ali Fakir also fined the convicts Tk 5,000 each, in default of which they would have to serve an additional six-month jail term.

The convicted seven are Abdus Salam alias Salam Majhi, Moniruzzaman, Abdur Rashid Tapu, Abdur Rashid Tapan, Mahfuzur Rahman alias Nasim, Rony Matubbar alias Tariq and Alam. The last five men, all cadres of the Purbo Banglar Communist Party, were tried in absentia.

Six other accused in the case -- Tauhidul Islam, Humayun Kabir, Kamal alias Abul Kalam, Kajol alias Khalil, Kuddus and Imam Jamaddar -- were acquitted.

The prosecution story in brief is that the accused gunned down the Awami League leader at about 6am on February 23, 2001 in front of his house at Gagan Babu road under Khulna thana as he was on his way back home from the nearby mosque after Fajr prayers.

The killers exploded bombs and fired blank shots as they left the scene.

On the following day, Razia Khatoon, wife of the victim lodged an FIR with Khulna thana in this connection.

SI Shahabuddin, who investigated the case, filed the chargesheet on September 23, 2001, accusing 13 persons for the murder. Nineteen prosecution witnesses made depositions during the trial. Two of the accused made judicial confession under section 164.