Avijit murder: 5 get death penalty, one life term
Star Digital Report
Star Digital Report
A Dhaka tribunal today sentenced five members of banned militant outfit Ansar al Islam to death and another to life in jail for killing blogger-writer Avijit Roy in February 2015.
Sayed Mohammad Ziaul Haque alias Maj (sacked) Zia, Akram Hossain, Abu Siddiq Sohel, Mozammel Hossain Saimon and Arafat Rahman Siam were sentenced to death.
Shafiur Rahman Farabi was sentenced to life in prison.
Of them, Major Zia and Akram are still absconding, while the rest are behind bars.
Judge Md Majibur Rahman of the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal of Dhaka handed down the sentence in presence of the four convicted in a packed courtroom around noon today.
The family of slain writer-blogger Avijit Roy today demanded immediate arrest of the two fugitives, including the mastermind behind the killing Sayed Mohammad Ziaul Haque alias Major (sacked) Zia. "Police administration should not be relaxed after the judgment. They should continue their efforts, to some extent, double their efforts, to arrest the two masterminds Major Zia
Of them, Zia and Akram are still absconding, while the four others are behind bars.
Earlier, 28 prosecution witnesses, including Avijit s father Prof Ajoy Roy, who passed away on December 9, 2019, gave their depositions before the tribunal.
During the closing arguments on February 4, the prosecution told the court that they were able to prove the charges against the accused and sought capital punishment for them.
The defence sought acquittal for their clients during their arguments.
On February 26, 2015, US-based Bangladeshi blogger Avijit Roy and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya were hacked near TSC of Dhaka University by a gang of assailants when the couple was walking out of the Ekushey Boi Mela around 8:30pm.