State will ensure quick hearing in HC, promises AG

The state will ensure quick hearing after reaching references and appeals of the convicted persons in the Narayanganj seven-murder case in the High Court (HC) for confirmation of the death penalty given to them.

“We’ll take steps for quick hearing after reaching the death references and appeals of the death-row convicts to the High Court for confirmation of the death penalty given to them,” attorney-general Mahbubey Alam said.
He also said that they would argue strongly to uphold the trial court verdict in the case.
Expressing his satisfaction over the verdict, Alam said the verdict has fulfilled people’s expectations. “The verdict has proved that the killers are not above the law and that they must be punished for committing crimes,” he noted.
As per Section 374 of the Criminal Procedure of Code (CrPC), the HC disposes of a death reference after examining whether a condemned prisoner deserves the capital punishment or not. If a condemned prisoner deserves the death penalty, the HC upholds the lower court verdict.
If the HC confirms the death sentence of an accused or acquits him/her, the aggrieved side may file an appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) against the verdict.
Law minister Anisul Huq said the verdict would dispel the fear the horrifying crime had created. 
Explaining the next procedural system, Huq said as per Section 374 of the CrPC, if the trial court awards the death penalty to an accused, it would be sent to the HC for confirmation. Finally, the death-row convict can move the Supreme Court against the HC verdict. If they lose the legal battle at the Appellate Division of the SC, the authorities concerned usually execute the death penalty after completion of necessary formalities, he noted.
In response to another query, the law minister said the lower court would send the death references along with all the documents to the HC within seven days.
Talking to this correspondent, former law minister and eminent jurist said the lower court had delivered a historic verdict within a short time. 
“Before the BDR mutiny case, I didn’t see such a huge number of law enforcement personnel being sentenced in a case. The judge has delivered a great verdict without any fear. It seems that the government had not interfered in the verdict and the judiciary is working independently,” he added.
Criminal law expert and former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Khandaker Mahbub Hossain said this was a milestone verdict by the trial court.
He, however, said some accused had given their files to him and he had seen the case documents. There were some discrepancies between the witnesses’ statements and case documents. “We'll now wait for the HC verdict,” he added.
In the sensational seven-murder case, the Narayanganj district and sessions judge's court yesterday awarded the death penalty to 26 persons, including prime accused Nur Hossain and sacked commanding officer of RAB-11 Tareque Sayeed Mohammad. The trial court also declared jail terms for nine others from seven to 17 years.

State will ensure quick hearing in HC, promises AG

The state will ensure quick hearing after reaching references and appeals of the convicted persons in theNarayanganj seven-murder case in the High Court (HC) for confirmation of the death penalty given to them. Well take steps for quick hearing after reaching the death references and appeals of the death-row convicts to the High Court for confirmation of the death penalty given to them, attorney-general Mahbubey Alam said. He also said that they would argue strongly to uphold the trial court verdict in the case. Expressing his satisfaction over the verdict, Alam said the verdict has fulfilled peoples expectations. The verdict has proved that the killers are not above the law and that they must be punished for committing crimes, he noted. As per Section 374 of the Criminal Procedure of Code (CrPC), the HC disposes of a death reference after examining whether a condemned prisoner deserves the capital punishment or not. If a condemned prisoner deserves the death penalty, the HC upholds the lower court verdict. If the HC confirms the death sentence of an accused or acquits him/her, the aggrieved side may file an appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) against the verdict. Law minister Anisul Huq said the verdict would dispel the fear the horrifying crime had created. Explaining the next procedural system, Huq said as per Section 374 of the CrPC, if the trial court awards the death penalty to an accused, it would be sent to the HC for confirmation. Finally, the death-row convict can move the Supreme Court against the HC verdict. If they lose the legal battle at the Appellate Division of the SC, the authorities concerned usually execute the death penalty after completion of necessary formalities, he noted. In response to another query, the law minister said the lower court would send the death references along with all the documents to the HC within seven days. Talking to this correspondent, former law minister and eminent jurist said the lower court had delivered a historic verdict within a short time. Before the BDR mutiny case, I didnt see such a huge number of law enforcement personnel being sentenced in a case. The judge has delivered a great verdict without any fear. It seems that the government had not interfered in the verdict and the judiciary is working independently, he added. Criminal law expert and former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Khandaker Mahbub Hossain said this was a milestone verdict by the trial court. He, however, said some accused had given their files to him and he had seen the case documents. There were some discrepancies between the witnesses statements and case documents. Well now wait for the HC verdict, he added. In the sensational seven-murder case, the Narayanganj district and sessions judges court yesterday awarded the death penalty to 26 persons, including prime accused Nur Hossain and sacked commanding officer of RAB-11 Tareque Sayeed Mohammad. The trial court also declared jail terms for nine others from seven to 17 years.