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The High Court on Wednesday upheld maximum punishment of four of the five convicts sentenced to death by the lower court concerned in the case lodged over the murder of Japanese citizen Kunio Hoshi in 2015.
A High Court division bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon pronounced the judgment after holding hearing on death reference and appeals of the convicts.
The court through its short judgment upheld the death sentence of Masud Rana alias Mamun alias Montri, Liton Mia alias Rafik, Ahsan Ullah Ansari alias Biplob and Shakhawat Hossain. The High Court however, acquitted Eshak Ali of the charges.
The High Court on September 4 started hearing the death reference and appeals in the case. On September 19, the High Court had fixed today to pronounce the judgment.
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.
Rangpur Special Judge Court on February 28, 2017, sentenced five members of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to death in the case.
The convicts are JMB’s regional commander Masud Rana, military commander Eshak Ali, Liton Mia, Ahsan Ullah Ansari Biplob and Shakhawat Hossain. Of the five, Begum Rokeya University student Ahsan Ullah Ansari alias Biplob is yet to be arrested and was tried in absentia.
JMB militants shot Kunio Hoshi to death on October 3, 2015, in Alutari area under Kaunia upazila in Rangpur.
