Shawdesh Desk:

A Dhaka court has sentenced four members of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujaheedin Bangladesh (JMB) to death in the much-talked-about case filed over the killing of Dhaka University teacher, noted writer and intellectual Prof Humayun Azad.

Judge Al-Mamun of the Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court passed the order on Wednesday.

The condemn convicts are Salehin alias Salahuddin, Anwarul Alam alias Anwar and Mizanur Rahman alias Minhaz and Nur Mohammad.

Among them, Salehin and Nur are on the run while two others are in jail.

The court also issued arrest warrant against the fugitive persons.

Earlier on March 27, the court fixed today for delivery of the verdict after concluding arguments hearing in the case.

A total of 41 out of 58 witnesses, including the investigation officer, have testified before the court in the case.

On February 27, 2004, Prof Humayun Azad was stabbed by some militants on the premises of Bangla Academy while he was returning home from Amar Ekushey Book Fair.

His brother Monjur Kabir filed an ‘attempt to murder’ case against some unnamed people with Ramna Police Station the following day.

Prof Azad took treatment in Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka and later, he was shifted to a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. He died on August 12, 2004 while undergoing treatment in Germany.

The case turned into a murder case with his death.

CID Inspector and Investigation Officer Lutfur Rahman submitted a charge sheet on April 30, 2012 against five JMB militants in the case.