Five jailed for life in B’baria murder case

A Brahmanbaria court on Wednesday sentenced five people to life imprisonment for murdering a man in Sarail upazila six years back.

Mohammad Safiul Azam, district and sessions judge of Brahmanbaria, handed down the verdict this afternoon. He also sentenced three other accused to one year imprisonment.

Those who got life term are identified as Shafiqur Rahman Khandkar (Shafi), Md Morshed Khandaker, Md Shahed Alam Khandkar, Abdul Hye and Mubarak. Of them, Morshed and Mubarak are still at large.

Apart from them, Helim Miya, Abul Badsha and Mamun Miya have been sentenced to one year imprisonment each. Of them, Abul Badsha is fugitive.  

According to court sources, one Shawkat Ali was killed by his rival at Syedtula Jahangirpara village of Sarail on 13 August, 2014, following a feud over land.

Later, the deceased's brother –Abdul Baten – filed a murder case with Sarail Police Station accusing nine people.

Bashir Ahmed, lawyer of the plaintiff, described the incident as a planned murder.

"We hoped that the accused would be awarded with the capital punishment. Now, we are disappointed with the verdict," he said adding that they will file an appeal petition with the High Court.

One of the accused – Abul Kashem – died three years ago.