DHAKA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- A court in Bangladesh's seaport city Chattogram has handed down death penalty to five ex-cops, who were involved in the killings of 24 people in police firing on a rally of Sheikh Hasina three decades ago.
Acting Divisional Special Judge Md Ismail Hossain announced the verdict amid tight security in a packed courtroom of Chattogram, some 242 km southeast of capital Dhaka, sentencing the five former policemen to death.
According to the case documents, police opened fire on a rally led by the then opposition leader and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Jan. 24, 1988, during the rule of Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
An Awami League leader, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, during his witness testimony in court said this "unprovoked" police firing that left at least 24 Awami League party leaders and activists dead was part of a "premeditated plan" to assassinate Hasina.
Eight policemen, including Mirza Rakibul Huda, the then Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner, were named as accused in the charge sheet.
Of them, three have already passed away while death-row convict former Constable GC Mondal is currently on the run.
