The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the High Court order that acquitted 11 people in the Awami League leader Ahsanullah Master killing case.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice SK Sinha, passed the order, reports UNB.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam appeared on behalf of the state while Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and Barrister Moudud Ahmed represented the accused.

Barrister Moudud said there is no legal bar to the release of those of the accused behind bars.

Earlier, on July 14, the apex court extended till today (July 17) the stay order on the HC verdict acquitting the 11 accused in the killing case.

On June 21, the SC stayed the HC’s acquittal order until July 14.

Chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice Hasan Foyez Siddique issued the stay order following a government petition against the HC order.

The government filed the appeal before the Appellate Division of the SC bench concerned seeking a stay order on the acquittal of the 11 on June 20.

The acquitted are Amir Hossain, Boro Jahangir, son of Nur Hossain, Foysal (fugitive), Lokman Hossain Bulu, Rony Fakir (fugitive), Khokon (fugitive), Dulal Mia, Rakibuddin Sarkar alias Pappu Sarkar, Ayub Ali, Jahangir, son of Meher Ali and Monir. Of them, Rakibuddin, Ayub, Jahangir and Monir were awarded life term imprisonment in the case.

On June 15, the HC in an order upheld the death sentences of six convicts, commuted that of seven to life term in jail and acquitted 11 people from the charges in the murder case.

Criminals shot Ahsanullah Master, a former AL MP, to death at a rally at MA Mazid Miah High School ground at Tongi, Gazipur on May 7, 2004.

The following day, victim’s brother Matiur Rahman filed the case with Tongi police station against 17 people.

A speedy trial tribunal on April 16, 2005 sentenced 22 people, including BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarker, to death and six others to life imprisonment in the murder case.

Of them, two convicts died during the trial proceedings, while 17 are behind bars and nine others are on the run.

The convicts later appealed to the HC against the sentences.