A Dhaka court sentenced Freedom Party leader Maj (retd) Joynul Abedin and 21 more to seven years' rigorous imprisonment for possessing illegal firearms yesterday.
Judge Mohammad Rezaul Islam of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 handed down the verdict in presence of convicted Joynul Abedin. The other convicts are on the run since the case was filed.
The punishment of the fugitives will be effective from the day of their arrest or surrender, the judge said.
The convicted fugitives are Abdur Rashid, Zahid Miah, Erfanur Rahman, SM Palash, Shawkat Uddin Chowdhury, Solaiman, Omar Faruque, Lincon, Rezaul Islam Khan, Mohammad Jalal, Faruque Ahmed, Akbar Hossain, Hira Ahmed, Rahim Ahmed, Golam Rob, Shamsul Islam, Shamim Hossain, Aslam, Abul Hossain, Apollo and Shishir Chowdhury.
Bazlul Huda, executed in the Bangabadhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case, was acquitted.
According to the prosecution, indiscriminate shooting from firearms by a group of Freedom Party activists led by Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda and Joynul Abedin killed Awami League activist Harun-ur-Rashid of Mymensingh on the spot and injured others near Purabi Cinema Hall on the Dhaka-Mymensing Highway on February 11 in 1990.
Police arrested 23 people including Bazlul Huda and Joynal Abedin from the spot while fleeing.
Two cases were filed with Trishal Police Station of Mymensing, one for murder and the other under the Arms Act, following the incident.
The murder case filed against Nuruddin Ahmed, brother of BNP leader Mosaddek Ali Falu, and 29 others is now pending with the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 of Dhaka.
Special Public Prosecutor SM Rafiqul Islam appeared for the state while Sirajul Islam defended the accused.