DHAKA: A court in Dhaka handed down death penalty to two persons for killing blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider murder.

Dhaka speedy trial tribunal-3 judge Sayed Ahmed passed order on Thursday (December 31) noon.

The death row convicts include Mohammad Faisal Bin Nayeem Dip of Khilkhet Chowdhurypara in Dhaka and Redwanul Azad Rana of Feni.

The life-term imprisonment recipient is Maqsudul Hasan Anik of Keraniganj of Dhaka.

Different term jail sentence has been given to Ansarullah Bangla Team chief Mufti Mohammad Jasimuddin Rahmani, Mohammad Ehsan Reza Rumman of Jhenaidah, Nayeem Irad of Brahmanbaria, Nafiz Imtiaj of Chittagong and Yasir Mahmud of Kalabagan.

It is the first verdict of blogger murder in the country.

Earlier on Monday (December 28), the tribunal set December 31 for pronouncing the verdict in the case as presentation of arguments ended on the day.

The accused included Ansarullah Bangla Team chief Mufti Mohammad Jasimuddin Rahmani and seven students of North South University.

They all were students of electrical and electric department and electrical and telecommunication department  of North South University.

However, police have detained six, except Redwanul Azad Rana of Feni and thought that Rana, who is currently fugitive, was the mastermind of the killing.

During the indictment hearing, seven accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read in the court.

According to the charge-sheet, the students were influenced by reading the books and listening to the speeches of Jasimuddin Rahmani. They consequently were inspired to kill ‘atheist’ Rajib.

Jasimuddin has been indicted as the instigator of the killing.

Blogger and also an architect Ahmed Rajib Haider was chopped to death in front of his house in city’s Mirpur area on February 15 in 2013.

BDST:  1333 HRS, DEC 31, 2015
RS/SMS

** Blogger Rajib murder verdict at noon