The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, in a review judgement, has reduced Shukur Ali’s death penalty to life imprisonment.
A four-member bench led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha gave the order on Monday after reviewing appeal verdict of Shukur Ali, who is in jail for 14-years over the rape and murder of a seven-year old girl.
On July 12, 2001, Manikganj’s Women and Children Repression Prevention Court sentenced Ali to death.
On behalf of Shukur Ali, Rights organisation Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) moved the High Court against the sentence.
The death sentence ruling by a tribunal was later upheld by the High Court and also the Appellate Division.
In 2000, the government amended the earlier law that said either death sentence or life imprisonment can be awarded as the highest punishment for the rape and murder of any child or woman.
Also Read: Death sentence or life in jail for killing someone after rape
However, Shukur Ali was tried in line with the previous law that said any individual or more than one person caused the death of any child or woman in or after committing rape, they shall be handed the death sentence.
On this ground, the rights group filed the review petition, challenging the verdict of High Court and also the Appellate Division.
