Chattogram: A Chattogram court today sentenced four individuals to death in connection with the murder of Ershadul Habib Rubel, a youth from Kutubdia upazila in Cox's Bazar district, concluding a protracted 19-year-old case. The verdict was delivered by Senior District and Sessions Judge Hemayet Uddin.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, those sentenced to capital punishment are Jahedul Islam alias Farhad, Abdullah Al Mamun alias Sohel, Abu Ershad alias Jewel, and Rustam Ali, all residents of Kutubdia. However, Sohel, Jewel, and Rustam are currently absconding, prompting the court to issue arrest warrants against them.
Simultaneously, the court acquitted four other accused-Touhidul Islam Arafat, Hossain Mohammad Sajjad, Mohammad Syed, and Azharul Islam Choton-as the charges against them could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This information was confirmed by state lawyer and Public Prosecutor Advocate Ashraf Hossain Chowdhury Razzak.
He noted that Jahedul Islam Farhad was present in court when the death sentence by hanging was pronounced, along with a fine of Tk 20,000. According to the case records, Ershadul Habib Rubel was shot and hacked to death over a property dispute in the Baraghop area of Kutubdia on October 15, 2006. Two days later, on October 17, Rubel's mother, Momtaz Sufia Akhter Shefali, filed a murder case against 18 individuals.
In 2008, Kutubdia police submitted a charge sheet against eight accused. After the framing of charges, the trial began in 2010. Following the examination of 15 prosecution witnesses out of a total of 21, the court today delivered its judgment.