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A court in Jamalpur has sentenced seven people to death and seven others to life imprisonment in a much-discussed case over the murder of an uncle and his nephew.
Jamalpur Additional District and Sessions Judge-1 Mohammad Nezam Uddin delivered the verdict on Thursday (August 20). Public Prosecutor Advocate Didarul Islam Didar confirmed the matter.
The seven death-row convicts are Sakhawat, 32; Md Sohel, 30; Al Amin, 30; Saddam, 30; Ujjal, 30; Antar, 30; and Faizur, 32.
The seven others sentenced to life imprisonment are Chan Mia, 50; Md Ziar, 45; Shah Alam, 41; Kawsar, 29; Rifat, 31; Sumon, 31; and Mostafa, 49.
According to the prosecution, the killings stemmed from a political conflict during the 2016 election for chairman of Adarvita Union Parishad in Madarganj upazila. Supporters of Awami League-backed candidate Altafur Rahman Ata and rebel candidate Ishahak clashed during the election period.
On April 10, 2016, police went to Gajaria village to arrest Mostafa, an adviser to the Adarvita Union Awami League and a supporter of Ishahak, in connection with a case filed over the clashes.
Unable to identify Mostafa’s house, police asked local residents Mohor Ali and his nephew Swapan Mia for directions. Based on the information they provided, police arrested Mostafa.
After securing bail, Mostafa allegedly planned the killing of Mohor and Swapan as an act of revenge.
On the night of May 16, 2016, Sakhawat and Sohel allegedly lured the two victims from their home on the pretext of attending a musical event. They were then taken to a jute field in the Bhanu Fakir area of Kukurmari under Jor Khali Union, reportedly on the pretext of bringing a woman associated with Saddam.
The prosecution said Mostafa’s associates attacked Mohor and Swapan with sharp weapons and later slit their throats. Their mutilated bodies were recovered from the jute field three days later.
Mohor Ali, 19, son of Abdus Salam Dafadar of Gajaria, was a Class XII student at Mirza Azam College. His nephew Swapan Mia, 16, son of Jahangir Alam, was a Class X student at Sanaibanda Islamia Dakhil Madrasa.
Following the killings, Swapan’s father Jahangir Alam filed a murder case with Madarganj Model Police Station, naming 22 people as accused.
After investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against 14 people. The court reached its verdict after examining the testimony of 60 witnesses, including 42 who testified earlier and 18 whose statements were recorded on Thursday.
The court sentenced each of the seven death-row convicts to death and fined them Tk50,000 each.
Jahangir Alam, the complainant, said he was satisfied with the verdict and urged the government to ensure that the sentences are implemented without delay.
Advocate Didarul Islam Didar represented the prosecution, while Advocates Amanullah Akash, Wab Ali and Nazrul Islam represented the accused.