The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences for two convicts in the murder of Rajshahi University Professor S Taher Ahmed, 16 years ago.
It has also upheld the life terms awarded to two other convicts in the 2006 killing of the Geology and Mining teacher in his home.
The full Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique delivered the verdict on Tuesday, dismissing the pleas by the convicts.
The death row convicts are former RU assistant professor Dr Mia Md Mohiuddin and Jahangir Alam, who was the caretaker of Taher’s home.
The lifers are - Jahangir's brother Abdus Salam and brother-in-law Nazmul Alam.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Deputy Attorney General Bishwajit Debnath represented the state, while lawyer SM Shahjahan and barrister Ehsan E Siddique appeared for the convicts.
"Killing a professor just for promotion is a heinous crime and justice has been served through this order. The defence can now appeal for the review of the order and seek presidential pardon if the appeal gets rejected. The death sentence will be executed if the convicts don’t get clemency,” said Bishwajit.
Meanwhile, Professor Taher’s wife Sultana Ahmed, son Sanzid Alvi Ahmed, and daughter Shegufta Tabassum Ahmed were content with the order.
“After 16 years of struggle, we got justice. Will be fully content when the same will be executed,” said Sultana.
Rajshahi University Professor S Taher Ahmed’s son Sanjid Alvi Ahmed, wife Sultana Ahmed and daughter Supreme Court Advocate Shagufta Tabassum Ahmed with their counsels at Supreme Court Tuesday, March 5, 2022 Focus BanglaProfessor Taher was killed on February 1, 2006. His body was found two days later in a septic tank behind his residence on the university campus.
His son Sanjid Alvi Ahmed filed a murder case with the Motihar police station in Rajshahi.
In March 2007, police pressed charges against six people
Mohiuddin, Mambubul Alam Salehi, the then President of Islami Chhatra Shibir’s RU unit, caretaker Jahangir were implicated along with his brother Abdus Salam, a Shibir activist. Their father Ajimuddin was also accused along with Nazmul.
Jahangir, Nazmul and Salam testified in court saying Mohiuddin was the one who persuaded them to kill Taher by luring them with the promise of money, computers and university jobs.
In May 2008, a Rajshahi court sentenced Mohiuddin, Jahangir, Salam and Nazmul to death.
In its April 2013 verdict, the High Court upheld capital punishments for Mohiuddin and Jahangir, but gave life terms to Salam and Nazmul.
On February 22 this year, the Appellate Division started hearing the appeals by the convicts challenging the High Court verdict.
