September 29, 2003	Monday	Sha’aban 2, 1424

DHAKA, Sept 28: Joinal Hazari, a former MP of the Awami League, the main opposition in Bangladesh, was awarded seven years’ rigorous imprisonment on Sunday.

Hazari was tried, in absentia, by the Chittagong Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal, for possessing illegal weapons.

Pronouncing the verdict the Judge of the Tribunal, Hasan Imam, said that the charges of owning illegal weapons against the accused were proved beyond doubt.

Hazari, who earned notoriety of being a godfather of criminals during the Awami League rule between 1996 and 2001, remained absconding since his party was defeated in the last General election.