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A court in Pirojpur on Tuesday sentenced five people to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment each in a human trafficking case.
The court also fined each convict Tk 500,000, with an additional six months’ non-rigorous imprisonment if they fail to pay the fine.
Pirojpur Human Trafficking Offences Tribunal Judge and District and Sessions Judge Mehedi Al Masud pronounced the verdict.
The convicts are Md Kuddus of Ghatichora area in Mathbaria upazila, Md Kasem alias Kader Molla of Bahubal in Habiganj, Rabiul Alam alias Manik of Shahrashti in Chandpur, Jamal Sikder alias Zia of Siddhirganj in Narayanganj, and Palash Chowdhury of Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar.
According to the case documents, the accused were charged under Section 7 of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012.
The case was filed with Mathbaria Police Station on June 3, 2014, and was later transferred to the Pirojpur Human Trafficking Offences Tribunal for trial.
The court said the prosecution had proved the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt based on the evidence and testimony presented.
Jamal Sikder alias Zia and Palash Chowdhury were present in court during the pronouncement of the verdict.
The court ordered that they be sent to Pirojpur District Jail and said their sentences would take effect from the day of the verdict.
The court also issued arrest warrants against the three absconding convicts—Md Kuddus, Md Kasem alias Kader Molla and Rabiul Alam alias Manik. Their sentences will take effect from the day they are arrested or surrender to the court.
The court directed the relevant authorities to execute the warrants and take necessary legal action against the absconding convicts.
Additional Public Prosecutor of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Advocate Rahima Akter Hashi represented the state, while Advocate Manas Kumar Bairagi defended the accused.