The full text of High Court verdict on the Peelkhana massacre which being the highest number of convicts in view of death sentence and life term imprisonment was released on Wednesday (Jan.8).
The High Court upheld the death sentence of 139 accused, life term imprisonment of 185 and 200 were awarded imprisonment of different terms while 278 were acquittal of the charges.
It is also the largest in terms of the size of the verdict. Details of the total 29 thousand 59 page verdict were not known.
Till the writing of this report, a copy of the verdict was not given on the Supreme Court website.
The full text of the High Court special bench comprising Justice Md. Shawkat Hossain, Justice Md. Abu Jafar Siddiqui and Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder has been released after being signed by the bench judges.
The verdict was delivered by the High Court on November 26 and 27 of 2017. The second phase of the trial will be concluded through releasing of the full text of the verdict. Next the convicts will get the opportunity to appeal in the Supreme Court.
Judge of Dhaka's 3rd Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman on November 5, 2013 sentenced 152 people death, 160 accused to life term imprisonment, 256 people were awarded imprisonment on different terms. The Judge also acquitted 278 accused.
It later came to the High Court as a death reference. The defendants appealed against the conviction of the trying Court. The High Court passed the judgment after hearing the death reference and appeal. The full verdict of which was released on Wednesday (Jan.8).
On 25 February 2009, a death carnage was carried out by the Jawans at the headquarters of former the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) at Pelkhana. In the massacre 74 people including 56 army officers and also BDR director general, Major General Shakil Ahmed was killed.