in Bangladesh, the High Court has acquitted 12 convicts...

in Bangladesh, the High Court has acquitted 12 convicts, condemned to death by the lower court, in Awami League leader Noor Mohammad murder case. The bench of justices Syed Dastagir Hossain and Emdadul Haque Azad passed the order after hearing the death reference and leave to appeal. The public prosecutors, however, said that they would appeal to the Appellate Division against the High Court judgement. The convicts who have been acquitted are Mir Mohammad, Salam Laskar, Akther Molla, Mokaddes Molla, Rabbani Kazi, Islam Laskar, Liton Sheikh, Jummon Kazi, Miskat Gazi, Sifat Sheikh, Alfa Sheikh and Hafizur Rahman. Of the convicts, Hafizur has remained absconding following the murder. Assistant Attorney General Aminur Rahman Chowdhury told bdnews24.com that the court acquitted all the convicts by rejecting the death reference. "We'll appeal against the verdict." Noor Mohammad, a local leader of then opposition Awami League of its Banni village unit in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat district, was killed over taking control of a shrimp enclosure on Oct 7, 2001 during the post-poll violence following the eighth parliamentary election. The deceased's son Sohagh Malik filed a case with the Rampal Police Station against some 85 people, mentioning the names of 63. After probe, the police submitted charge-sheet against 14 accused. Of them, Aslat Sheikh died during the trial while another was acquitted by the lower court. On Apr 24, 2008, the then Judge Mohammad Rezaul Karim of the Additional District and Sessions Judge's Court of Bagerhat sentenced the 12 accused to death.