The High Court (HC) on Wednesday released full text of its August 6 verdict that upheld death for two and life in prison for 11 others in a case lodged over barbaric murder of tailor-shop worker Biswajit Das in 2012.
The High Court released the 80-page full text after the two judges of the bench concerned signed it.
According to a BSS report, High Court division bench, comprising Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty, pronounced the judgement on the day. The court, however, acquitted four from the charges.
The two death-row-convicts are Rafikul Islam Shakil and Rajan Talukder. The court acquitted Saiful Islam, Kaium Miah, AHM Kibria and Golam Mostafa from the charges. The High Court commuted death sentences of four to life imprisonment, making total 15 to languish in jail for life.
The court also ordered to take actions against the doctor that conducted autopsy on Biswajit's body and investigation officer for failing to submit proper reports before it.
Earlier on July 17, the High Court set August 6 to pronounce judgment after concluding hearing on death reference and appeals filed by the convicts in the case. The High Court held hearing on 15 appeals and death references on 15 days.
Dhaka 4th Speedy Trial Tribunal on December 18, 2013, sentenced eight people to death and 13 others to life imprisonment in the case. The trial court had sentenced Rafikul Islam Shakil, Rajan Talukder, Mahfuzur Rahman, Rasheduzzaman, Imdadul Haque, Kaium Miah, Saiful Islam, and Nur-e Alam.
The court also sentenced AHM Kibria, Golam Mostafa, Khandaker Eunus Ali, Monirul Haque, Tarik Bin Johayer, Alauddin, Obaidul Quader, Imran Hossain, Azizur Rahman, Al Amin Sheikh, Rafikul Islam, Kamrul Hasan and Mosharraf Hossain. Of them, apart from Kibria and Golam Mostafa, others are yet to be arrested.
The death reference in the sensational case was sent to the High Court within a week of the passing of trial court judgement. Fourteen people convicted by the trial court also filed appeals against their conviction.
Biswajit, a tailor-shop worker, was hacked to death in broad daylight on December 9, 2012, during a blockade program called by the BNP-led alliance.