The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar was sentenced to 17 years of rigorous imprisonment by a special tribunal yesterday for possessing illegal arms and ammunition.

The court awarded him 10 years' jail for keeping illegal arms under Section 19 (a), while 7 years for keeping bullets under Section 19 (f) of the Arms Act. Since the punishment will run concurrently, Babar will have to suffer a total of 10 years' imprisonment.

Judge Syed Zahed Mansur of the Metropolitan Special Session Court handed down the verdict at about 12:45pm after examining records and hearing 14, out of 16 witnesses.

In his verdict, judge Syed Zahed Mansur said the highest punishment in the arms case is imprisonment for life. "Since Babar has been admitted to hospital for his sickness, he has been given comparatively less punishment on special consideration," he said.Earlier, Babar was taken to the court from Dhaka Central Jail through an ambulance.

Babar's lawyers said they would appeal to the higher court against the verdict.

The army-led joint forces in a raid into Babar's Gulshan residence on May 28 last seized four firearms, including a shotgun, two pistols and a revolver, two magazines and 297 rounds of bullets from his bedroom. As Babar failed to show any valid document for a revolver and 25 rounds of bullets, the joint forces arrested him.

On June 3, an arms case was filed with Gulshan Police Station against Babar for possessing illegal arms and ammunition by sub inspector Helaluddin.

The investigation officer of the case sub inspector Khabiruddin submitted the charge sheet to the court on June 23 last showing 16 prosecution witnesses. Charge was framed against him on July 25. Later, depositions of 14, out of 16 witnesses were recorded by the court.

This is the first case in which the former state minister for Home Affairs convicted. He faces more than half a dozen criminal and corruption cases.

Known as Young Turk in BNP, Babar was closely linked with Hawa Bhaban and its supremo Tarique Rahman, eldest son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Babar had held the portfolio of Home Ministry till the end of tenure of BNP-Jamaat alliance government in October last year.