Death for Kazi Aref killers

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected review petitions filed by two death row prisoners convicted of killing Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) leader Kazi Aref Ahmed. Anwar Hossain and Rashedul Islam Jhontu were sentenced death for killing Kazi Aref Ahmed 15 years ago in Kushtia. The two had filed a petition to review the verdict, which the four-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice M Muzammel Hossain turned down today. Additional Attorney General (AAG) Mamtaz Uddin Fakir represented the state while Khandaker Mahbub Hossain stood for the defence. Kazi Aref, who was also the president of a JSD faction then, was shot dead on February 16, 1999, at a rally in Kalidashpur Primary School ground under Doulatpur Upazila of Kushtia district. Four others were killed in the shootout at the rally, including the then JSD Kushtia unit President Lokman Hossain, General Secretary Yakub Ali, local JSD leaders Israil Hossain and Shamsher Mandal, according to a news agency.