Shazneen Murder Case: Shahid's death penalty remains in force

The death sentence of Shahidul Islam (Shahid) in the case over the rape and murder of Shazneen Tasnim Rahman 19 years ago remains in force.

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed a petition by the accused for reviewing its earlier verdict upholding his death penalty.

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A three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha gave this order, thus bringing an end to the last step of the legal battle.

Shahid was a domestic help at Shazneen's Gulshan house when the incident happened on the night of April 23, 1998.

During yesterday's hearing, Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury, AM Aminuddin, ASM Abdul Momin and Sarwar Ahmed stood for the plaintiff. Nikhil Kumar Saha along with Manoj Kumar Bhoumick appeared for the defence.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Deputy Attorney General Khandaker Diliruzzaman represented the government. 

Shazneen was a class-nine student of Scholastica when killed. Her father Latifur Rahman is chairman of Transcom Group.

The trial of the case filed for rape and murder took place at the Special Tribunal for Prevention of Women and Children Repression.

On September 2, 2003, the tribunal sentenced six accused to death for planning Shazneen's rape and murder. They are house help Shahid, contractor for renovation of Shazneen's house Syed Sajjad Mainuddin Hasan and his assistant Badal, two housemaids Estema Khatun Minu and Parvin (who are sisters) and carpenter Shaniram Mandal.

The case then went to the High Court for death reference. The convicts also filed appeals against the trial court judgment.

On July 10, 2006, the HC acquitted Shaniram and confirmed the death sentence for the rest five.

Hasan, Badal, Minu and Parvin filed appeals against the judgment while Shahid filed a jail appeal.

On August 2 last year, the SC acquitted the four and upheld Shahid's death penalty.

Shahid appealed for a review after the SC released its full verdict. His appeal was dismissed yesterday.