Hoshi Kunio murder: HC upholds death penalty for 4

The High Court (HC) has upheld the death penalty of four members of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and acquitted another in the case lodged over the murder of Japanese citizen Hoshio Kunio in Rangpur in 2015.

An HC division bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice S M Masud Hossain Dolon passed the order on Wednesday. 

The convicts are JMB’s regional commander Masud Rana alias Mamun, 21, members Liton Mia alias Rafiq, 23, Ahsan Ullah Ansari alias Biplob, 24 and Shakhawat Hossain, 32. 

Of them, Ahsan Ullah, who was a student of Begum Rokeya University, is on the run.

The convict who got acquittal is JMB member Eshahak Ali. 

Earlier on Monday, the HC set September 21 for passing its judgment on death reference and appeals of four among the five convicts sentenced to death in the case.

Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammed Morshed took part in the hearing for the state while Assistant Attorney Generals A Manna, Jakir Hossain Masud and Nirmol Kumar Das assisted him. On the other hand, Advocate Ahsan Ullah argued for the convicts.

The High Court on September 4 started hearing the death reference and appeals in the case.

Rangpur Special Judge Court on February 28, 2017, sentenced five members of JMB to death in the case.

Hoshi Kunio was shot dead at Alutari village of Kaunia upazila in Rangpur on October 3 in 2015.