10-truck arms haul: 'No legal bar to Babar's release' after acquittal in Arms Act case
The senior BNP leader will be released as soon as the verdict reaches the prison, says his lawyer
Highlights:
- HC acquits Babar in case filed under the Arms Act over 10-truck arms haul
- He was earlier acquitted in another case filed under Special Powers Act
- The senior BNP leader is expected to walk out of prison very soon
The High Court today (14 January) acquitted former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar in a case filed under the Arms Act over the controversial 10-truck arms haul in Chattogram of 2004.
The bench of Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasrin Akhter passed the verdict this afternoon, clearing all legal barriers on his release from prison, according to his lawyer Shishir Monir.
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The verdict acquitting Babar is likely to reach Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj today.
Shishir expressed hope that Babar, a senior BNP leader who was given life imprisonment in the Arms Act case, will be released as soon as the verdict reaches the prison.
Four other people who were also acquitted in the case today apart from Babar are former National Security Intelligence (NSI) director general Maj Gen (retd) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury, former managing director of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL) Mohsin Uddin Talukder, former CUFL general manager (administration) KM Enamul Haq, former acting industries secretary Nurul Amin.
Five people, including Paresh Barua, the military commander of the Indian separatist organisation United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa), have been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the case. The High Court has quashed the case against four other accused due to their deaths.
Others who have been sentenced to 10 years in prison are former NSI director Wing Commander (retd) Sahab Uddin Ahmed, former NSI deputy director Major (retd) Liaquat Hossain, former NSI field officer Akbar Hossain Khan and alleged smuggler Hafizur Rahman.
Those whose appeals were rejected due to death are former NSI director general Abdur Rahim, former Jamaat ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami, alleged smuggler Din Mohammad and alleged smuggler's associate Haji Abdus Sobhan.
Earlier on 18 December last year, the High Court acquitted Babar and five others from death sentence in a case filed under the Special Powers Act over the 10-truck arms haul.
Other death row convicts acquitted are – Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury, Mohsin Uddin Talukder, KM Enamul Haq, Nurul Amin.
Paresh Baruah's death sentence was also commuted to life imprisonment in this case.
On 1 April 2004, law enforcement officials seized a large cache of weapons while they were being unloaded at the CUFL jetty.
They found a staggering haul that included 4,930 sophisticated firearms, 27,020 grenades, 840 rocket launchers, 300 rockets, 2,000 grenade-launching tubes, and over 1.1 million rounds of ammunition, according to various media reports at the time.
Ten trucks were required to transport the weapons, which had reportedly been smuggled via the Bay of Bengal and brought up the Karnaphuli River.
High-ranking officials and state intelligence agencies were accused of being aware of or involved in the smuggling. The trial began on 6 July 2005.
On 30 January 2014, Chattogram's Special Tribunal-1 sentenced the 14 individuals to death in the highly-publicised 10-truck arms haul case.
On 6 November this year, hearing on the death reference and jail appeals against the verdict began.
Lawyers, including SM Shahjahan, presented appeals for Babar, former DGFI DG Rezzakul Haider, and other defendants, challenging their death sentences and jail terms.
Advocate Shahjahan said the charges in the case's first information report (FIR) were flawed, and the evidence insufficient, contending that punishing the defendants would be against justice.
Former Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami was also sentenced to death in the case but was excluded after his execution in a separate war crimes case.
The same defendants received life sentences in a separate arms case, along with additional seven-year terms. Each convict was fined Tk5 lakh as well.
