The High Court (HC) today (Jan 14) acquitted five individuals, including former home minister Lutfozzaman Babar, in an Arms Act case linked to the infamous 10-truck arms smuggling incident.

The HC bench comprising Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasreen Akter issued the verdict.

Following the ruling, Babar's lawyer confirmed that there are no legal obstacles preventing his release from jail.

In the same case, Indian separatist group ULFA chief Paresh Barua and four others were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. Additionally, former National Security Intelligence Director General Abdur Rahim has been exempted from the case.

The incident dates back to April 1, 2004, when 10 truckloads of arms were seized at the CUFL jetty in Chittagong. Two cases—one under the Arms Act and another under the Special Powers Act—were filed with the Karnaphuli Police Station the next day.

In the arms case, 50 individuals were named, with 52 unnamed suspects also implicated. On January 30, 2014, the Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge SM Mujibur Rahman sentenced 14 people to death under the Special Powers Act.

Those sentenced included former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, ex-state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, ULFA chief Paresh Barua, former DGFI director Maj Gen (retd) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury, and ex-NSI director general Abdur Rahim. They were also handed life imprisonment and additional terms under the Arms Act.

Of those convicted, Motiur Rahman Nizami was executed in 2016 for crimes against humanity.