Bangladesh acquits some for 1975 political murders

DHAKA (Reuters) - Six army officers sentenced to death or life in jail in Bangladesh for the prison murders of four politicians over 30 years ago have been acquitted by the high court, officials said on Thursday.

In 2004, a lower court sentenced three officers to death and 12 others to life in prison for their role in the 1975 killings, but on Thursday two of the capital sentences and four of the life terms were overturned.

"We have acquitted some of the accused as police failed to produce adequate evidence against them," excerpts from the verdict read.

Most of those involved have been on the run for over three decades, although four of the original gang of 15 are serving sentences on other convictions.

The prison murders came shortly after the assassination of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family by army rebels in August 1975.

The 15 originally convicted all held the rank of major or above and were charged with murdering four of Mujibur's detained associates.

Sheikh Hasina, one of his two surviving daughters, filed a murder suit against the accused after she became Bangladesh's prime minister in 1996.

"We are disappointed as most killers of the national leaders have been acquitted," said Zillur Rahman, acting chairman of Hasina's Awami League.

The prosecution said it would appeal the Supreme Court's "unacceptable" verdict.