One to die, 5 others get life

Judge M Hasan Imam handed down the death penalty to Md Shafiul Azam alias Shafi at a jampacked court room. The other convicts are Saiful Islam alias Babu, Ujjal Barua, Md Nurul Alam, brother of Shafi, Md Nurul Absar and Md Golam Moula, general secretary of Momenbagh Housing Society. Of them, Ujjal and Nurul Absar were tried in absentia.

The court also fined Saiful and Ujjal Tk 10,000 each. If they fail to pay, they will have to suffer another one year's imprisonment. Nurul Alam, Nurul Absar and Golam Moula were also fined Tk 1,000 each, in default to suffer an additional one month's imprisonment.

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Another accused Md Nurul Islam died during the trial.

According to the prosecution, Shafiul Azam and other accused equipped with firearms started erecting a wall around a piece of land owned by SM Iqbal Hossain, plaintiff of the case, at Hamzarbug Colony in the city on February 15, 2000.

Iqbal along with his brother-in-law SU Ahmad Harun, a shipping businessman, and other relatives tried to resist the gang, but Shafi shot Harun in his chest when he was rushing to call the police on the phone.

Harun was rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where he died the same day.

Local people caught Shafi and two other accused with firearms and handed them over to police.

Iqbal filed a case with Panchlaish Police Station in this connection. And the investigating officer of the case submitted a charge sheet accusing Shafi and four others on August 10, 2000.

The case was transferred to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) police. It was sent to divisional speedy trial tribunal on July 31 last year.

Advocate Quamrul Islam Chowdhury and Advocate Ahsanul Haq Hena appeared on behalf of the state and the plaintiff while Advocate Salauddin Haider Siddiqui, Advocate Najim Uddin and Advocate Monzurul Alam Ansari defended the accused.