DHAKA, Sept 28, 2020 (BSS) – A Dhaka court today sentenced Regent Group
chairman Md Shahed alias Shahed Karim to life imprisonment in an arms case.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Imrul Qayes pronounced the
judgement in presence of the convict.
“The court sentenced him to life imprisonment under section 19 (a) and
seven-year imprisonment under section 19 (f) of the weapons act and said both
the sentence would run concurrently,” Dhaka Metropolitan public prosecutor
Abdullah Abu said.
The public prosecutor expressed satisfaction over the judgement, saying
it would create an example in the society.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court additional public prosecutor
Tapas Kumar Paul said the court sentenced him life imprisonment for keeping
illegal weapon and seven-year imprisonment for keeping bullets.
Shahed’s counsel Advocate Moniruzzman however, expressed dissatisfaction
over the judgement, saying they would appeal against this before the High
Court.
“There are many people in the society like Shahed and this case would
set an example for them. He bought his car by taking Taka 20 lakh loan from
bank but did not confess before the court. He is very cunning. As the arms
and ammunitions were found in his car, he cannot get any mercy from the
court,” the court said in its observation.
The court on September 20 set today to pronounce judgement in the case
as both the prosecution and defence concluded their closing arguments in the
case on that day.
Earlier on September 16, Shahed in his self-defence statement, had
pleaded not guilty and begged for justice.
The court on August 27 framed charges in the case, while the sole
accused pleaded not guilty. Earlier on August 19, the court took into
cognizance the charge-sheet filed in the case.
Investigation officer and DB inspector Shairul filed the charge-sheet at
the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Morshed Al Mamun Bhuiyan on July
30, while the court on August 13 transferred the case to Dhaka Metropolitan
Sessions Judge Court for further proceedings.
Shahed was arrested by RAB from Debhata upazilla of Satkhira in the
early hours of 15 July and was airlifted to the capital in the morning.
DB conducted raids on one of his Uttara dens on 18 July and recovered
illegal arms and narcotics. They later filed the case with Uttara West police
station.