Verdict in arms case against Md Shahed today

The judgement in the arms case filed against Regent Group Chairman Mohammad Shahed is set to be delivered by a Dhaka tribunal today.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Special Tribunal-1 of Dhaka is scheduled to read out the judgement around 2pm, Additional Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Tapash Kumar Pal confirmed to The Daily Star.

Earlier, the prosecution and defence completed their arguments in the case.

The prosecution told the tribunal that they have been able to prove the charges against the accused and sought highest punishment -- life term imprisonment  -- for the accused.

The defence, however, told the tribunal that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges in the case. They sought acquittal of their client.

Shahed was arrested on July 15 from Satkhira when he was trying to leave the country on a boat.

He was later remanded in a case filed over issuing fake Covid-19 test results and charging patients unfairly for testing and treatment.

On July 19, a team of DB police found Shahed's private car in front of a house in Sector-11, in the city's Uttara Paschim area. They then seized a pistol with a round of bullets from the car and later a case under the Arms Act was filed against him.

DB Inspector Md Sairul Islam on July 30 submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka, showing 13 people as prosecution witnesses. The Special Tribunal-1 of Dhaka framed charges against Shahed, accused in over 60 cases, on August 27 in the case.

Eleven prosecution witnesses, including the case's complainant, so far gave their depositions before the tribunal.