Babar acquitted of 17-year jail sentence

Former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar has been acquitted of 17 years of imprisonment in a case filed over the recovery of arms from his Gulshan house.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasrin Akter passed this order on Wednesday (March 19) after disposing of a rule in this regard.

Mohammad Shishir Manir, a lawyer for Babar, confirmed the matter.

Earlier on January 16, former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar was released from jail after 17 and a half years as he was acquitted in all cases.

In addition to Babar, several other high-profile individuals involved in the 2004 Chattogram 10-truck arms haul case were also released. They include Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, former director general of the National Security Intelligence and Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, Liaquat Hossain, former NSI deputy director, Akbar Hossain Khan, former NSI field officer, Shahabuddin Ahmad, retired wing commander, and Mohsin Uddin Talukder, former managing director of Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited.

The High Court on January 13 acquitted Babar and four others who had been serving life sentences in the 10-truck arms haul case.

The acquitted individuals include Rezzaqul Haider Chowdhury, Mohsin Uddin Talukder, former CUFL general manager KM Enamul Haque, and Md Nurul Amin, who remains in hiding.

The appeals of several other convicts were dismissed, including that of former Jamaat-e-Islami chief and industries minister Matiur Rahman Nizami, who was executed for war crimes. Three other accused — retired Brigadier General Md Abdur Rahim, labor supplier Din Mohammad, and trawler owner Haji Md Abdus Sobhan — died in custody during the proceedings.