The High Court on Monday acquitted eight death-row convicts, while upholding the death penalty for three in the killing of a businessman and a staff of his shop in 2007.
The HC bench of Justice Krishna Debnath and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar passed the order after hearing the death reference and appeal petition.
The HC also commuted the death sentence of another death-row convict identified as Abdus Sabur to ten years imprisonment.
The three who failed to gedt any reprieve are—Quamrul Hasan alias Sohag, Rashed Driver and Kamal Hossain alias LG Kamal.
Those who were acquitted are—Mofazzel Hossain, Tofazzal Hossain, Samsuddin, Shahab Uddin, Zafar Hossain, Ali Akbar, Nasir Uddin and Abu Yusuf.
Advocate Azhar Ullah Bhuiya, a counsel of the convicts, said the court acquitted eight convicts out of 12.
According to the prosecution, Firoz Kabir, a cell phone shop owner along with his brother Samsul Kabir and a staff member Sumon Pal was returning home from Jam-e-Mosque intersection of Noakhali district town after day’s business at night on February 1, 2007.
When they reached Napiter Pole, a group of robbers swooped on them and stabbed them indiscriminately, leaving the trio injured.
The robbers also looted valuables including cell phones, pre-paid cards and other valuables worth Tk 10 lakh from their possession before leaving the place.
Local people took the victims to Noakhali General Hospital where the doctors declared Sumon Pal dead and sent Firoz and Samsul to Dhaka for better treatment.
On the following day, Firoz succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
Abu Bakar Siddique, father of Firoz lodged a case with Sudharam police station.
On March 23, 2016, Noakhali Second Additional district and Session Judge ANM Morshed Khan sentenced 12 people to death and acquitted ten people as allegations brought against them could not be proved.
Source: United News of Bangladesh