Appeal hearing in Ahsanullah Master murder case set for Feb 26

The Appellate Division of the High Court has set February 26 for hearing the appeals of those convicted in the murder case of Ahsanullah Master, the former Awami League leader and MP from Gazipur.

The Appellate Division, led by Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, set this date on Wednesday (January 29).

Senior Advocate Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol represented the accused in court.

On January 14, Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol filed an appeal on behalf of the accused, requesting the Appellate Division to expedite the hearing of their appeal in the murder case of Ahsanullah Master.

In 2004, Ahsanullah Master, an Awami League leader and former MP from Gazipur, was killed in a terrorist shooting during a local rally. After the trial court's verdict, the case was heard in the High Court, which delivered its judgment. Both the state and the accused then filed separate appeals in the Appellate Division against this verdict.

According to the case details, on May 7, 2004, Ahsanullah Master was shot and killed by terrorists during a rally at the Noagao MA Majid Mia High School ground in Tongi, Gazipur. The next day, Ahsanullah Master's brother, Matiur Rahman, filed a case at Tongi police station, naming 17 individuals and 10-12 unidentified suspects.

Following the trial, on April 16, 2005, the court sentenced 22 people, including Nurul Islam Sarkar, to death, while six others were sentenced to life imprisonment. Two individuals were acquitted.

Of those sentenced to death, Al Amin and Raton (also known as Chhoto Raton) have since passed away. Among the remaining 26 individuals, 17 are currently in custody, while 9 remain fugitives.

The High Court later received the death reference for the trial court's verdict, and the accused filed jail appeals. On February 15, 2016, the High Court upheld the death sentences of six individuals. Out of the 30 accused in the case, 28 were convicted by the lower court, with 22 receiving death sentences and six sentenced to life imprisonment.