Despite getting the presidential clemency, 75-year-old Ajmat Ali Master had to remain ten additional years in prison. To get release, he had to sell all his property and is now penniless.
Though a free man now, he is having to spend time in financial crisis, hunger and destitution. Ajmat Ali was accused in the killing of one Rezaul over land related feud in 1987.
In 1989, he was given life term the by Jamalpur district judge but he lodged an appeal for clemency, which was granted by the president and was released in 1996. However, due to a state lodged live to appeal, he was arrested by police in 2009 and the High Court revoked the release of the lower court and upheld the sentence.
Later, his daughter applied to the Supreme Court legal aid branch and the case was resolved on Jun 27, 2019 by the Appellate Division. Ajmat became free again on Jul 16.
Though life sentence constitutes 14 years, he had to endure 17 years in prison. To run the case he had to incur a huge cost of around Tk 900,000.
He is now living in poverty and deprivation. Ajmat’s wife Jobeda Begum says that when her husband was behind bars, she was looked after by neighbours.
During Ajmot’s absence, his daughter’s marriage cost was borne by Fazlul Huq, a neighbour.
Ajmot’s lawyer, Jayanta Kumar, says: “It was not right to imprison Ajmot after he was given presidential amnesty.”