Three sentenced to death 17 years after college student murder

A court has handed down the death penalty to three individuals over the murder of a college student in Bhairab Upazila of Kishoreganj, 17 years after the killing took place.

On Tuesday, Judge Fatema Akter Swarna of the Third Additional District and Sessions Judge’s Court in Kishoreganj delivered the verdict.

Those sentenced to death have been identified as Suman Mia, 39, Selina Begum, 41, and Shobha Prokash, 47.

A native of Kuliarchar Upazila, the victim, 22-year-old Mohammad Ali, was a first-year BSc student at Hazi Asmat College in Bhairab and resided in accommodation provided by the college.

Citing the case details, Assistant Public Prosecutor Shafiuzzaman said that on the night of Jan 6, 2008, the accused hacked Ali to death.

The following day, Ali’s father filed a murder case with Bhairab police against unidentified individuals.

Shafiuzzaman said that following the investigation, Sub-Inspector Abdul Aziz of Bhairab police had submitted a charge sheet accusing four individuals.

During the investigation, arrestees Suman and Mohorrom, identified by a single name, confessed to the crime under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

However, Mohorrom died during the trial proceedings.

According to their statements, they said that Selina and Shobha were involved in sex work. When Ali tried to stop them, they turned to Suman and Mohorrom for help.

Later, both Ali and his friend Murad, also mentioned by a single name, were attacked with sharp weapons, according to the documents.

Ali died en route to the hospital, while Murad was sent to Dhaka for improved medical care.

Following witness testimonies, the court also fined each of the convicts Tk 10,000 in addition to the death sentences.