21 Bangla oppn party men given death penalty for murder

A Bangladeshi court has handed down death penalty to 21 men belonging to main opposition Awami League for the murder of a member of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's ruling party in 2004, court officials said today.

Judge Mohammad Firoze Alam of Speedy Trial Tribunal of Dhaka announced the death sentences late last night to the men belonging to Awami League party of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed in northern Natore district.

The defence lawyers charged that the verdict was influenced as the victim, 26-year-old Sabbir Ahmed Talukder Gama, was the nephew of Deputy Minister for Land Ruhul Kuddus Talukder, which the prosecution denied.

Gama, who belonged to Bangladesh Nationalist Party's student wing, was killed by a group of about five men on February seven, 2004 when he was sitting at a tea stall along with his friends in Natore district.

The judge said the prosecution was able to prove that the murder was conceived and carried out by the convicts.

The attack was aimed at eliminating a political rival, he said in his verdict.

The defence is set to appeal to a higher court.

This is the second highest death penalty handed in a single case. A court last year sentenced 22 people to death for the assassination of Awami League leader Ahsanullah Master.

Article Source: http://www.share.onlypunjab.com

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