A Bangladesh court on May 17 sentenced to death 23 persons, including a Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader, for the murder of four activists of the Awami League and its student organisation in 2002, a media report said.
Additional Public Prosecutor Jasmin Ahmed confirmed the verdict and said that it was pronounced by Narayanganj Second Additional District and Sessions Court judge, Kamrunnahar. Jasmin Ahmed further said he was satisfied with the judgment.
Of the 23 sentenced to death, 19 persons including, BNP leader Abul Bashar Kashu, were present in the court, while the remaining four were absconding.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the president of the political party Awami League in Bangladesh.
According to the prosecution, Abul Bashar Kashu and others tortured the four activists, after picking them up from their houses on March 12, 2002, and later burnt them to death, bdnews24 reported. One of the four murdered persons belonged to Awami League’s student organisation, Chhatra League.
