Child Mahfuz Murder
Three Sentenced to Death, Two Get Life Imprisonment
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Thirteen years after the abduction and murder of an eight-year-old boy in Gopalganj, a Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced three people to death and two others to life imprisonment.
Judge Farzana Yasmin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 delivered the verdict. The court also fined each convicted individual Tk 50,000, according to prosecutor Gias Uddin.
Under the verdict, Jamal Sheikh, his brother Ranju Sheikh, and Sheikh Shamim Ahmed were sentenced to death for the murder of the child, Mahfuz. Mahmuda Khanam Usha was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Tk 50,000.
The court acquitted Sabbir, also known as Rajib, of the murder charge after finding insufficient evidence.
In a separate ruling on the abduction charges, Billal Sheikh, Jamal Sheikh, Ranju Sheikh, Sheikh Shamim Ahmed, and Usha were each sentenced to life imprisonment for abducting the child or assisting in the crime. Each was also fined Tk 50,000.
The tribunal acquitted Mizanur Rahman Mizan, Kamona Begum, Sheikh Sohrab, Tuhin Sheikh, Sheikh Sakib Ahmed, Rakib Sheikh, Sabbir Ahmed, Minarul Islam, and Monju Sheikh after finding no evidence proving their involvement in the abduction or in assisting the crime.
As the convicted individuals remain fugitives, the court issued arrest warrants against them to enforce the sentences.
According to the case documents, Mahfuz, the eight-year-old son of Italian expatriate Rezaul Islam, was abducted on the night of July 5, 2012, while on his way from his home in Barashur village of Kashiani upazila to the Bhatiapara Railway Jame Mosque to offer Shab-e-Barat prayers.
The following day, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of Tk 7 million from the child’s family over the phone. Mahfuz’s mother, Swapna Begum, filed an abduction case with Kashiani Police Station the same day.
During the investigation, police arrested Mehedi Hasan and Mohammad Saddam Hossain. After being produced before the court, the two confessed to abducting and killing the child over a family feud. Investigators found that Mahfuz had been strangled to death after being held captive and brutally tortured for 45 days.
On the night of Aug. 20, 2012, on Eid day, the child’s body was abandoned near his family home. The following day, Swapna Begum filed a supplementary complaint adding the murder allegation.
After completing the investigation, Sub-Inspector Nizam Sikdar of Kashiani Police Station submitted the charge sheet on Nov. 20, 2012, accusing 14 people. Separate juvenile charge sheets were filed against Mehedi Hasan and Mohammad Saddam Hossain because they were minors at the time of the crime.
Considering the gravity of the case, the Ministry of Home Affairs transferred it to Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 on Dec. 22, 2013. Formal charges were framed on Feb. 13, 2014, marking the start of the trial. During the proceedings, the tribunal recorded testimony from 23 of the 25 prosecution witnesses before delivering its verdict.
