Five to die, six get life

Judge Mohammad Rezaul Islam of the Fifth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court gave the verdict at a jam-packed courtroom for killing Saidul Islam Swapan, president of a ward unit in Demra thana.

The convicts with death are two brothers- Shafiullah and Hedayetullah and Babu alias Abul Bashar, Motasin alias Motasin Billah and Ismail Fakir while Abdur Rahim, Hazrat Ali, Fakir Chand, Rakib Uddin, Shukur Ali and Mostaque were given life in jail.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Of the convicts, Motasin, Babu and Ismail were tried in absentia while the rest were present in the court during the delivery of the judgement.

The punishment of the fugitives will be effective from the date of their arrest or surrender, the judge in his verdict said.

Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 13 prosecution witnesses.

In the case filed with Demra Police Station , Swapan's elder brother Shamsul Islam alleged that a gang of assailants led by Shafiullah equipped with hockey sticks and sharp weapons attacked their house at 12/2 Par Gandaria in the city to kill his brother Swapan, 22, at about 9:30pm on August 25,1999. Later, they killed Swapan in front of Nazma Monzil in the pre-planned way over previous enmity.

Shamsul Islam filed a murder case accusing Shafiulah and 10 others the same day. The investigation officer pressed charges against Shafiullah and 11 others on May 29, 2001 showing 24 people as prosecution witnesses.

Victim's father Sirajul Islam was present in the court during the delivery of the judgement and expressed his satisfaction over the verdict.

Specially appointed Public Prosecutor Haji Nazrul Islam, Additional Public Prosecutor Khorshed Alam and Assistant Public Prosecutor Hossain Majumder appeared for the state while advocates Abdul Matin Khosru, AFM Abdul Wadud and Shah Alam Talukder defended the accused.