Rajshahi: Ten leaders and workers of the outlawed Purba Bangler Communist Party (Lal Pataka) including an Indian national were sentenced to life imprisonment by a speedy trial tribunal here Tuesday in the sensational Amzad Master murder case of Naogaon around ten years back.

Headmaster of Raninagar School and General Secretary of Raninagar Upazila Awami League Amzad Hossain Master was slaughtered to death at near Raninagar Railway Station in the early night on June 23, 2003.

Judge of Rajshahi Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal Ekramul Haque Chowdhury found the convicts guilty of the charge and pronounced the verdict in a jam-packed court room in presence of seven of the convicts.

They were also fined Taka 20,000 each, in default to suffer one year more in jail.

The convicts are Mustafizur Rahman, Nazrul Islam Master, Rassuel Islam, Monakker, Tufan Sonar, Alam Sarder, Babar Ali, Kamrul Islam, Saheen Faisal and Rabiul Islam alias Tareque (Indian). Of them, Mustafizur Rahman, Monakker and Shaheen remained absconding since the trial. Fourteen other accused of the case were acquitted as the murder charge brought against them could not be proved beyond doubt.

The prosecution story, in brief, is that a gang of the outlawed men slaughtered Amzad Master to death. Jahanara Khatun, wife of the victim, had lodged a case with Raninagar Police Station on the following day.

The tribunal examined the recorded depositions of 26 prosecution witnesses and other relevant evidences and finally handed down the aforesaid verdict.

Special Public Prosecutor Entazul Haque Babu conducted the case on behalf of the state while Advocates Hamidul Haque and Abu Bakker defended the accused.

Ends/AMA/17/04/13