HC upholds lower court verdict on Lalbagh 7-murder case

The High Court on Thursday upheld a lower court verdict sentencing two people to death, nine others to life term and another to 10 years in jail for killing seven people in Lalbagh of the capital in 1994.

An HC bench of Justice Quamrul Islam Siddiqui and Justice AKM Zahirul Haque passed the order upon petitions filed by the convicts challenging the lower court verdict.

According to the case statement, some criminals led by former Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) ward commissioner Abdul Aziz opened fire on a victory procession of his rival Humayun Kabir at Lalbagh in Old Dhaka on January 31, 1994, leaving seven people dead. 

Humayun was elected commissioner of ward-59 in the DCC election.

A Dhaka court on May 7, 2008 sentenced Abdus Salam alias Moti and Zahid Hossain alias Natka Babu to death.

The lifers are Abdul Alim alias Shaheen, Monir Patwary, Munna, Kalu alias Kailla, Delwar Hossain alias Anda, Deel Mohammad alias Moti, Mahatab Hossain, Mozammel Hossain and Amir Hossain. 

Besides, former DCC ward commissioner Abdul Aziz was awarded 10 years' imprisonment.

Deputy attorney general Bashirullah stood for the state while Khandakar Mahbub Hossain, Mahbubuddin Khokon, Khurshid Alam and ASM Shahjahan appeared for the defence. 

Khurshid Alam said they will appeal to the Supreme Court against the judgment.