The High Court today (Dec 18) acquitted several individuals, including former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, in a high-profile case involving the smuggling of 10 truckloads of weapons in Chittagong.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasreen Akter delivered the verdict.
Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akhter Ruby and Assistant Attorney General Md. Asif Imran Zisan appeared for the state in the court.
On December 11, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar sought acquittal in the 10-truck arms haul case in Chattogram.
Babar's defence counsel Mohammad Shishir Manir prayed to the High Court to acquit his client from the charges in that case.
The High Court on November 6 started its hearing on death references and appeals filed by the convicts.
Law enforcers and coast guard personnel seized ten truckloads of arms, ammunition and explosives while those were being off- loaded at CUFL jetty area at the south-east bank of the river Karnaphuli under Karnaphuli Police Station on the night of April 1, 2004.
Two cases were lodged the next day with Karnaphuli Police Station, one under the Special Powers Act and the other under the Arms Act.
The trial court concerned on January 30, 2014, sentenced 14 people including former industries minister and Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar to death in the case lodged under the Special Powers Act.
The court also sentenced them to life term imprisonment in the case filed under the Arms Act.
BDST: 1251 HRS, DEC 18, 2024
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