DHAKA, Sept 19, 2022 (BSS) - The High Court (HC) today set September 21 for
passing its judgment on death reference and appeals of four among the five
convicts sentenced to death in the case lodged over the murder of Japanese
citizen Hoshio Kunio in 2015.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and
Justice S M Masud Hossain Dolon set the date today after holding hearing on
the matter.

Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammed Morshed took part in the hearing
for the state while Assistant Attorney Generals A Manna, Jakir Hossain Masud
and Nirmol Kumar Das assisted him. On the other hand, Advocate Ahsan Ullah
argued for the convicts.

The High Court on September 4 started hearing the death reference and appeals
in the case.

Rangpur Special Judge Court on February 28, 2017, sentenced five members of
banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to death in the
case.

The convicts are JMB's regional commander Masud Rana, military commander
Eshak Ali, Liton Mia, Ahsan Ullah Ansari Biplob and Shakhawat Hossain. Begum
Rokeya University student Ahsan Ullah Ansari Biplob is yet to be arrested and
was tried in absentia.