Twelve of 15 ex-army officers accused of the 1975 assassination of Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman face the death penalty after a high court judge Monday delivered a final ruling in a case that has sparked public protests.
Judge Mohammad Fazlul Karim took five hours to deliver his crucial judgement in a crowded court, upholding a lower court verdict of death for lieutenant colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed, captain Abdul Mazed and non-commissioned offfer Moslemuddin.
But he acquitted major Ahmed Shariful Hossain, captains M. Kismat Hashim and Nazmul Hossain Ansari on doubts about their involvement.
Karim also ruled that Mazed, whose charge two earlier judges had clashed over, be charged with conspiracy to murder.
The current appeal hearing started on February 12.
The fate of five army officers sentenced to death by a lower court in 1998 became uncertain when a two-member bench in December gave a partially split verdict following an appeal.
One judge, A.B.M. Khairul Haque, upheld all 15 death sentences while the second judge, Mohammad Ruhul Amin, supported only 10 and aquitted five of the officers after a 64-day appeal hearing.
Chief prosecutor Sirajul Huq told reporters immediately after the verdict was announced Monday that "we are happy as we got 12 of the 15 charged and we have to learn to lose in a game or in a suit."
"The verdict is very, very significant for Bangladesh and its people, who too will be satisfied with the verdict, as real murderers have been netted," he said – DHAKA (AFP)
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