Narayanganj: A court here today awarded capital punishment to a person and sentenced 17 others to life-term imprisonment for the murder of a young man in Rupganj upazila of the district. The Judge of the First District and Sessions Judge Court of Narayanganj, Md Mominul Islam, delivered the judgment in the presence of a life-term convict while acquitting six accused due to insufficient evidence.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Court Inspector Abdul Quiyum reported that several of the accused have been absconding for a long time, and two out of the 26 accused have already passed away. The individual sentenced to capital punishment was identified as Tawlad alias Zahirul, aged 48, from the Lolati area of Sonargaon upazila. The life-term convicts are Mizan, Mohammad Ali, Pondit, Abdul Latif, Hanif, Sohel, Sabuj, Milon, Selim, Golzar, Leda Faruk, Rasel, Momen, Saddam, Shaheen, Ruhul Amin, and Abul.
The individuals acquitted of the charges are Abu, Masud, Mannan, Shahmim, Sohel, and Delwar. Additionally, Abul Hashem and Shawkot died during the trial proceedings.
The case statement reveals that the victim, Nazrul Islam Babu, was killed by a group led by known terrorist VP Sohel on May 31, 2012, after he mobilized the local community against drug activities. The victim's father filed a case against VP Sohel and his associates, leading to the police filing a charge sheet against 26 individuals involved in the crime.
Additional Public Prosecutor of the court, advocate AKM Omar Faruk Nayon, stated that Nazrul Islam Babu was brutally murdered by the convicts for his stance against drug abuse in the area.