The High Court today acquitted BNP senior leader Lutfuzzaman Babar in an illegal arms possession case, declaring the trial court's guilty verdict "illegal."

Justice Mostofa Zaman Islam delivered the verdict, overturning the earlier decision. 

Babar, the former home minister, was arrested by joint forces from his residence on May 27, 2007, during the army-backed caretaker government’s tenure.

A case was filed against him seven days later for illegal arms possession, and in October 2007, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison by the Dhaka Metropolitan Special Tribunal.

Babar’s lawyer argued that the case statement mentioned an unlicensed revolver in a red-black bag, but no such bag was listed among the seized items. 

The lawyer termed the case "ill-intended" in comments to the media.

BDST: 1256 HRS, March 19, 2025
MN