An HC bench of Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin passed the order after hearing the death reference and appeal petitions filed by the convicts.
Advocate Fazlul Haq Khan Farid and SM Shahzahan stood for the convicts while deputy attorney general Maniruzzaman Rubel represented the state.
Maniruzzaman said the HC acquitted all the eight convicts for lack of eyewitnesses. “We’ll file an appeal petition challenging the HC order,” he said.
The Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 Judge sentenced three people to death and five others to five years’ imprisonment on March 13, 2013 over the killing of the college girl.
The three condemned convicts were Nipun, Mamun and Dagu while those who got five years in prison were Tushar Kazi, Jony, Sraboni and Sheikh Nazmul.
Later, the death reference of the condemned convicts was sent to the High Court. Besides, all the convicts filed appeal petitions challenging the lower court verdict.
On August 30, 2010, Sadia Nur Mia, a student of Eden Mohila College and daughter of Liakat Hossain Mollah, went missing from her residence in Gopalganj and later, she was found dead at a pond adjacent to her house.
Victim’s father filed a case with Gopalganj Police Station in this regard.
According to the first information report of the case, Mitu had gone missing while sleeping with her sibling Antara and cousin Sraboni.
Later, police submitted a charge-sheet against eight people, including Sraboni.