Split verdict in Jhenidah blasts case

Dhaka, July 17 (bdnews24.com) ? The High Court has delivered split verdict in the case relating to the 21 death sentence awarded members of Jama'tul Mujahideen for the series of bomb blasts in Jhenidah on Aug 17, 2005.

Following a hearing on Sunday justice Syed Mohammad Ziaul Karim acquitted all the convicted, while justice Abdur Rab reduced punishment of 14 to life term and acquitted the rest.

The verdict would now be referred to the chief justice. "It'll be resolved in a third court in line with the law," deputy attorney general of the bench Abdul Mannan Mohan told reporters.

The 21 members of the banned Islamist outfit were given death sentence on Feb 28, 2006 by a special tribunal of Jhenidah.

Mannan said the convicted were acquitted by justice Karim as the charges against them were not proved.

The other justice acquitted seven convicts as charges were pressed against them rejecting the investigation officer's recommendation to drop their names. "Punishment of others was reduced considering their age," Momin added.

bdnews24.com/sn/pks/nir/2140h

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