Execute verdict in Kazi Aref murder case
Leaders, people in Kushtia demand
Kazi Aref Ahmed
Political activists and local people yesterday demanded early execution of the verdict in the case for killing Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) president Kazi Aref Ahmed, also an organiser of the Liberation War, and four other leaders of the party. They made the demand at meetings marking 11th death anniversary of the killings. On the occasion, JSD and its front organisations wore black badges, brought out silent processions and arranged discussions at Kalidaspur in Daulatpur upazila and Kushtia town. Kazi Aref Smriti Sangsad and Yakub Ali Smriti Parishad also arranged programmes at Kalidashpur in Daulatpur upazila and Kushtia town. The killers must be punished for the sake of establishing rule of law, speakers said at a meeting held at the Muktijoddha Oikya Parishad office in Kushtia. They urged the government to take measures to execute the verdict in the case without further delay. Sahabub Ali, president of Kazi Aref Smriti Sangsad chaired the meeting. Freedom fighter Abdul Jalil, JSD Kushtia unit president Golam Mohsin, general secretary Abdul Alim Sawpan, central committee member Md Abdullah, JSD leader ATM Abul Mansur Majnu, Awami League (AL) Kushtia Sadar unit president Aktaruzzaman Masum, Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee Kushtia unit secretary Asit Singha Roy and secretary of Kazi Aref Smriti Sangsad Karsed Alam spoke, among others. An armed gang killed Kazi Aref, Kushtia district JSD president Lokman Hossain, general secretary Yakub Ali, local JSD leader Shamsher Ali and Israil Hossain at a rally in Kalidaspur village of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia on February 16, 1999. On August 30, 2004, the then additional district and sessions judge Fazlur Rahman pronounced verdict sentencing 10 people to death and 12 others to life-term imprisonment for the killings. On August 5 in 2008, a High Court bench acquitted one of the death sentence awardees and upheld punishment of others. At present, an appeal hearing is pending with the Supreme Court.
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