5 sentenced to death in Manikganj triple murder
Photo: Agamir Somoy
A court sentenced five men to death in a case filed over the murder of three people stemming from a dispute over property and money sent from abroad in Gobindhal village of Singair, Manikganj.
In the same case, eight people were sentenced to life imprisonment and seven people were handed prison terms of varying lengths. Four people were acquitted as the charges against them were not proven.
On Thursday around 12:30 pm, Judge SKM Tofael Hasan of the Manikganj District and Sessions Judge Court announced the verdict.
Those sentenced to death are Md Ziar Uddin, Mohammad Zahidul Islam, Abdur Rashid, Jasim, and Siddique Mia. Each of them was fined Tk 20,000. In default of payment, they were ordered to serve an additional four months of simple imprisonment.
The eight sentenced to life imprisonment are Md Zahir Uddin, Azizul, Uzzal, Md Shamsul Haque, Salauddin, Majed Mia, Md Moron, and Swapan. Each of them was fined Tk 20,000.
Moreover, Shamim and Habu Miah were sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment each and fined Tk 10,000 each, in default of which they must serve an additional two months of simple imprisonment.
Majnu Mia was sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment. Razia Khatun and Sufia Khatun were sentenced to six months of imprisonment each, while Sahera and Khatuni were sentenced to three months of imprisonment each.
The four acquitted individuals are Oli Ahad, Shukur Jola, Raja Jola, and another defendant.
The verdict was confirmed by AFM Nurtaj Alam Bahar, public prosecutor of the Manikganj District and Sessions Judge Court.
According to the case details, a woman named Hasina lived in Bahrain. Having no husband or children, a dispute arose among her siblings over the ownership of the property and money left behind following her death.
Hasina’s sister Razia Khatun, her husband, and sons began using that property and money. Although local arbitrations were held several times to resolve the dispute, no solution was reached.
An arbitration meeting was scheduled for 21 February 2016, to settle the dispute. However, at around 7:45 am that day, Jasim called his maternal uncles Tendul Molla, Karim Molla, and Aziz Molla to the house of Shamsul Haque.
On the orders of Razia Khatun, Jasim and other defendants launched an attack on them carrying cleavers, spears, iron rods, and bamboo sticks. Aziz Molla, Tendul Molla, and Karim Molla were injured in the attack. All three later died while undergoing treatment.
The following day, 22 February, Farida Akter, a relative of one of the deceased, filed a murder case at Singair Police Station. Following an investigation, on 28 April 2017, the then Police Inspector of Singair Police Station, Aminul Islam, submitted a charge sheet to the court accusing 24 individuals.
After taking testimony from 21 witnesses and completing a lengthy judicial process, the court announced this verdict.
