Staff Reporter:
A Dhaka court on Wednesday sentenced four people, including two brothers, to life imprisonment in a case filed over the killing of a man named Javed some 23 years ago after luring him under the pretext of showing a film.
The convicts are two brothers, Delwar Hossain and Habibullah. The other two are Sirajul Islam and Din Islam.
Acting judge Abdullah Al Masud of the Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-7 in Dhaka delivered the verdict. As the accused were absconding at the time of the verdict, the court issued warrants for their arrest along with the sentencing orders.
In addition to life imprisonment, the court also imposed a fine of Tk10,000 on each of the convicts and, in default, they will serve an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
According to the case statement, the victim Javed worked at a betel leaf shop. On 18 March 2003, while returning home after finishing work, Delwar, Habibullah and Siraj took him on Din Islam’s rickshaw to the Saikat Cinema Hall at Dhaleshwari Ghat in Keraniganj, under the pretext of showing him a film.
The following morning, Javed’s body was found in the river. The owner of the betel leaf shop, Nur Hossain, filed an unnatural death case with Keraniganj Police Station on 19 March in connection with the incident.
Later, Javed’s mother, Amina Begum, filed a case in court against Nur Hossain and others, in which she alleged that due to Nur Hossain’s behaviour and statements, she suspected he was also involved in the killing.
On 30 April 2005, the investigating officer submitted a charge sheet against five individuals. On 8 May the following year, the court discharged Nur Hossain and framed charges against the remaining four accused and ordered the trial to begin. During the trial, six witnesses were testified.
