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A Decade Into Kazi Aref Killing

'Execute verdict to uphold rule of law'

16 February 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Our Correspondent, Kushtia

Leaders, activists and local people yesterday demanded immediate execution of verdict in the murder case of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) president freedom fighter Kazi Aref Ahmed and four leaders of the party's Kushtia unit. They were speaking at rallies here marking the anniversary of the killings. On the occasion, JSD and its front organisations wore black badges, held silent procession and arranged discussion meeting in the district. JSD Kushtia unit, Kazi Aref Smriti Parishad and Yakub Ali Smriti Parishad also arranged programmes at Kalidashpur in Daulatpur upazila and Kushtia town. A seminar was held at Kushtia Zilla Parishad auditorium on “Trial of War Criminals as a Question of National Unity and the Dream of Kazi Aref Ahmed”. Sahabub Ali, president of Kazi Aref Smriti Parishad chaired the seminar while it was addressed by JSD central joint secretary Nazmul Haq Pradhan, central member-secretary of Bangladesh MuktiJoddah Oikyia Parishad Nasim Ahmed, JSD leader district unit secretary Abdul Alim Sawpan, Mohsin Ali, Advocate Abdul Jalil, Kushtia district Awami League (AL) general secretary Asgar Ali, Workers Party district secretary Lutfar Rahman and Associate Professor of Islamic University Dr Zohurul Islam. The speakers told the seminar that the killers must be punished to establish rule of law in the society. They urged the government to take measures to execute the verdict in the case without further delay. An armed gang killed Kazi Aref, Kushtia district JSD president Lokman Hossain, general secretary Yakub Ali, local JSD leader Shamsher Ali and Israil Hossain at a rally in Kalidaspur village of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia on February 16, 1999. On August 30, 2004, the then additional district and sessions judge Fazlur Rahman pronounced the verdict sentencing 10 persons to death and 12 others to life imprisonment. Later, a high court bench acquitting one of death sentence but upheld life imprisonment of all 12 on August 5, 2008. At present, an appeal hearing is pending with the Supreme Court.