Madaripur: A court here today sentenced three people to life imprisonment and another to seven years in prison in Sekandar murder case in Rajair upazila of the district in 2014. Additional District and Sessions Judge-1 Nahidur Rahman Nahid pronounced the verdict this afternoon, Public Prosecutor (PP) of the court Emarat Hossain confirmed.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the convicts are Liton Howlader, 30, Titon Howlader, 26, Bacchu Howlader, 40, and Atiar Howlader, 35, all sons of deceased Gafur Howlader of Basabari village in Rajair upazila. The court sentenced Liton, Titon, and Bacchu to life imprisonment and fined each of them Taka 1 lakh. In default of payment, each will have to serve an additional one year in simple imprisonment. Atiar was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Taka 10,000. In default, he will have to serve an additional two months in simple imprisonment.
According to the case statement, Sekandar Ali Howlader and his nephew Kamrul Howlader came under attack near the western side of Basabari Bridge in Rajair on the evening of July 5, 2014. The prosecution alleged that the attack was carried out as part of a pre-planned assault stemming from a land dispute.
The attackers beat Sekandar Ali and Kamrul indiscriminately with iron rods and sharp weapons, leaving them seriously injured. Locals rescued them and admitted to Rajair Hospital. As their conditions deteriorated, doctors referred them to Faridpur Medical College Hospital where Sekandar died. A case was filed with Rajair Police Station on July 6, 2014. After nearly 12 years of judicial proceedings, the court delivered the verdict today.