19 years on, justice yet to be served

Final justice is yet to be delivered to the family members of the then Awami League lawmaker Ahsanullah Master, who was brutally killed on this day 19 years ago, as the appeals in connection with his murder case have been pending with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for seven years.

The petitions filed by his brother Motiur Rahman and government sought death penalty of all convicts, while convicts sought acquittal from all conviction and sentences, attorney general's office sources said.

There is no visible initiative from any side  for quick hearing and disposal of the appeals.

The apex court could not start hearing of the appeals because the regular judicial functions of the court remained suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic for a long time and now there's a long list of pending cases.

Besides, both the state and defence counsels have taken deferment of the hearing at different times previously, Md Shamsul Alam, an advocate-on-record of the case, told The Daily Star on May 4.

"After the death of Senior Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, who was the chief defence counsel of Ahsanullah Master murder case, tadbirkaroks (representatives) from neither the victims nor the convicts in the case communicated with us (advocates on records) for moving the pending appeals," he added.

Contacted, Additional Attorney General Sk Md Morshed told this correspondent that the state counsels will place arguments for establishing justice in the case when the apex court will begin hearing of the appeals.

Assailants killed Ahsanullah Master, a freedom fighter, and Omar Faruq Ratan, a student, and wounded 17 others in a staccato burst of fire on a rally of Swechchhasebak League at Noagaon near his house in Tongi on May 7, 2004.

The next day, his brother Motiur Rahman filed the case against 19 people, including Nurul Islam Sarkar, a Jubo Dal leader.

On April 16, 2005, a Dhaka court handed death sentences to 22 people and life terms to six others. A decade later, on June 15, 2016, the HC confirmed death penalty of six persons, including Nurul Islam.

It, however, commuted capital punishment of seven others to life imprisonment, upheld life term of two and acquitted 11 accused of charges.

The HC on September 7, 2016 released the full text of the verdict observing that the killing of Ahsanullah Master reflected the criminalisation of politics.

"The way of committing the crime, the place, and the surrounding circumstances undoubtedly indicate that they [the convicts] were sure that even if they had been identified, they would remain above the law due to the protection and patronisation of their party. This behaviour proves how fierce and violent they were. Only  fierce political criminals can hold such power and use it," the HC said in the full text of judgment.

Currently, 10 petitions challenging the HC verdict are pending with the apex court, including those by Ahsanullah's brother Motiur Rahman, the government and convicts.