Staff Reporter:
A Dhaka court on Thursday sentenced Rezaul Karim Reza to death for murdering his girlfriend, Dr Jannatul Naim Siddika, at a residential hotel in the capital’s Kalabagan area.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sabbir Faiz delivered the verdict and fined the convict Tk20,000.
The court also issued an arrest warrant as the accused is currently absconding after being released on bail.
According to the case documents, on 10 August 2022, Rezaul and Dr Jannatul checked into a residential hotel in Panthapath, posing as husband and wife. Rezaul then killed Dr Jannatul by slitting her throat and fled the scene.
The victim’s father, Shafiqul Alam, filed a case with Kalabagan Police Station the same night.
Rezaul was arrested the following day and subsequently gave a confessional statement in connection with the murder. He was later sent to jail but managed to secure bail and then went into hiding.
On 12 December 2023, police submitted the charge sheet to the court, and the trial began on 7 March 2024, following the framing of charges.
During the trial, the court recorded testimonies from 21 out of 26 witnesses.
