The gallows of the Rajshahi Central Jail has been fully prepared to execute two death-row convicts in Rajshahi University Professor Dr S Taher Ahmed murder case as the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court rejected a leave to appeal petition on Tuesday morning.
The Rajshahi jail authorities were taking preparations to execute two death-row convicts-- Dr Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin, associate professor of Rajshahi University’s Geology and Mining Department; and Md Jahangir Alam, caretaker of a building.
It was known that jail authorities were scheduled to execute death sentences for the two convicts Rajshahi Central Jail on Tuesday night.
The jail authorities started the activities of the execution of the hanging after rejection of the Appellate Division.
The family members of the two convicts met with them for the last time on Tuesday, Mijanur Rahman, younger brother of death-row convict Jahangir; confirmed the matter to the Bangladesh Post.
Mijanur Rahman said that the jail authorities sent a letter to them on Sunday but did not meet with Jahangir then as a writ seeking pardon of the accused remained pending. However, after the rejection of the writ from the court, 35 family members of Jahangir met with him at Rajshahi Central Jail (RCJ) for the last time.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi, the Civil Surgeon, the DIG (Prison) of RCJ and other officials concerned held a meeting inside Rajshahi Central Jail on Tuesday noon.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed for death-row-convict Jahangir Alam for staying his execution.
“Dismissed,” said the order passed by four-judge apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique.
The High Court on July 17 scrapped a writ petition filed by Md Sohrab Hossain, brother of convict Jahangir Alam, for staying the execution. He later filed this appeal with the apex court. But, the Appellate Division rejected the appeal and the source from Bangabhaban also informed that the mercy petition of two death sentences accused in the Prof Dr Taher murder case has also been rejected.
The Appellate Division on March 2 in 2023 dismissed a petition seeking review of the apex court order that upheld death sentence of former associate Dr Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin and Jahangir Alam.
The apex court on September 14 in 2022 published the 68-page verdict upholding the death sentence of two convicts. The apex court also upheld sentence of life imprisonment of Abdus Salam and Nazmul Alam.
Professor Dr S Taher Ahmed was killed on February 1 in 2006. Police recovered his body from a septic tank behind his residence on the university campus on February 3 the same year. His son Sanjid Alvi Ahmed filed the case with Motihar Police Station on the same day.
Rajshahi Speedy Trial Tribunal on May 22 in 2008 sentenced four accused to death and acquitted two others of the charges.
The High Court after holding hearing on the death reference and appeals of the convicts, pronounced its judgment on April 21 in 2013. It confirmed the death sentence of the-then RU teacher Dr Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin and Jahangir Alam for their involvement in the gruesome murder. The court however, commuted the death sentences of Jahangir's brother Md Abdus Salam and brother-in-law Md Nazmul.
On February 22 in 2022, the apex court started hearing on the appeals filed by the convicts challenging the HC verdict against them. The Appellate Division on April 5 in 2022 upheld the High Court verdict.
Senior Lawyers SN Goswami and Advocate SM Shahjahan had appeared for the accused in the Supreme Court, while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammad Morshed represented the state.
Among others, Sultana Ahmed, wife of Dr Taher, his daughter Advocate Segufta Ahmed, family lawyer Advocate Nahid Sultana Juthi and Shakila Eraoshan were present at the court during the hearing.