Staff Correspondent:

The Ex-Forces Association has demanded that the High Court deliver its verdict within the next month after completing the appeal hearing in the Major Sinha murder case.

These demands were made by the members of the association at a press conference held on Saturday at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) in Segunbagicha.

They also expressed hope that the death penalty for OC Pradeep Kumar Das and Police Inspector Liaqat Ali would be upheld by the High Court.

They further demanded that the verdict be implemented within seven days of its announcement.

At the press conference, Lieutenant (Retd) Saifullah Khan Saif, the member secretary of the Ex-Forces Association, read out a written statement.

Saifullah said that the verdict in the Major Sinha murder case was delivered on January 31, 2022.

In the verdict, Police Inspector Liaqat Ali and then-Officer-in-Charge of Teknaf police station Pradeep Kumar Das were sentenced to death, six others were given life imprisonment, and seven were acquitted.

The trial proceedings concluded within just 30 working days.

Currently, the death reference and appeal hearing of the case are ongoing at a High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman and Justice Saqib Hussain.

The association insisted that the verdict be executed within seven working days of its announcement.

Otherwise, the Ex-Forces Association warned that they would be compelled to announce the toughest possible programs demanding the execution of the verdict for the murder of their former colleague.

Saifullah further mentioned that on the night of July 31, 2020, retired army officer Major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan was shot dead by the police at the Shamlapur police checkpoint on the Marine Drive road in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.

Following the incident, Major Sinha’s elder sister, Sharmin Shahriar Ferdous, filed a case.

After investigation, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) submitted a charge sheet accusing 15 individuals.

Apart from the Major Sinha murder case, there are also local allegations against Pradeep Kumar Das of abusing his power during his tenure at Teknaf, creating a reign of terror.

As OC, he is accused of killing at least 145 people in so-called crossfires and amassing huge wealth through crossfire-related corruption.

The Ex-Forces Association also demanded the swift completion of judicial proceedings for the killings of child Achiya, Parvez, and Tofazzal, as well as the mass killings that took place in July and August.