The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondents, Barisal

A trial court in Patuakhali awarded death sentences to two accused and life term to other 19 in sensational Jasim murder case.

The judgment was declared 14 years after the murder and Munir Hossain, Yusuf Chan Mia and Harendra Chandra Shil, three of 31 accused died in jail before ending the trial.

The court also acquitted Zahir Hossain, Ershadul Hossain, Zakir Muhammad, Shahidul Islam, Muhammad Ali Chowkidar, Idris Ali Howladar and Mustafa Gazi, other seven accused from the charges.

Gias Uddin Ahmed, judge of the special tribunal in Patuakhali, handed down this verdict after examining 18 witnesses and other evidences.

The death sentenced convicts were Fakrul Alam Taru and absconding Mustafa Peayada.

The 19 life term awarded convicts were Khokon Sikdar,Nandalal Sikdar,Ashraf Sikdar, Fazlul Huq Sikdar, Shalam Sikdar,Babul Sikdar, Khokon Biswas, Alauddin Biswas, Abdul Barek, Rokanuzaman, Habib, Sobahan,Ibrahim, Masud,Abdur Rob Howladar,Santosh Chandra Shil,Mustafa Gazi,Yusuf Member and Omar Shahin Tipu.

Each of these 19 also fined Tk. 20 thousand or to suffer more 1 year imprisonment in default.

Prosecution story in brief was that Jasimuddin Sikdar of Pankhali village under Galachipa upazila of Patukhali was abducted by the accused on October 4, 1994 over land dispute.

Three days later dead body of the victim was found lying on Peyadar Char shoal on October 7.

Makbul Ahmed Master, elder brother of the victim while rushed to inform police to recover the dead body, the miscreants then snatched the dead body and cut to several pieces threw in the river.

Makbul lodged a murder case without mentioning any name of accused on October 10, 1994 with Galachipa police station.

Police submit a charge sheet against 9 accused and after objection against that charge sheet from the prosecution side, Sub Inspector Mizanur Rahman of crime investigation department (CID) reinvestigating the case submitted chargesheet against 31 accused in August 20 1998.