HC judgment on Hoshi Kunio murder on Sept 21

The High Court on Monday set September 21 for passing its judgment on death reference and appeals of four among the five convicts sentenced to death in the case lodged over the murder of Japanese citizen Hoshio Kunio in 2015.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice S M Masud Hossain Dolon set the date today after holding hearing on the matter.

Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammed Morshed took part in the hearing for the state while Assistant Attorney Generals A Manna, Jakir Hossain Masud and Nirmol Kumar Das assisted him. On the other hand, Advocate Ahsan Ullah argued for the convicts.

The High Court on September 4 started hearing the death reference and appeals in the case. Rangpur Special Judge Court on February 28, 2017, sentenced five members of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh to death.

The convicts are JMB's regional commander Masud Rana, military commander Eshak Ali, Liton Mia, Ahsan Ullah Ansari Biplob and Shakhawat Hossain. Begum Rokeya University student Ahsan Ullah Ansari Biplob is yet to be arrested and was tried in absentia.