A court here has sentenced three people to death and three others to life term imprisonment for killing independent Union Parishad chairman candidate Tojamal Haque Molla, 45, in Gabtali upazila of Bogra.
The court also acquitted another person of the murder. Tojamal Haque Molla was ambushed and hacked to death by the accused in Baithavanga Charmatha area about eight years ago.
District and Sessions Judge Shahjahan Kabir announced the verdict in a packed court today.
One of the three people sentenced to life term imprisonment was present in the court, public prosecutor Abdul Based said.
The death-row convicts are: Abul Kalam Azad alias Babul Pramanik, 28, son of Gutu Pramanik of Durgahata village, Gabtali, Moniruzzaman Mishu, 27, son of Kamruzzaman of the same village, and Md. Manik, 28, son of Abdul Malek. The court ordered their execution by hanging and fined them Tk 1 lakh each. They will be executed upon their arrest.
Delwar Hossain Dulu, 58, son of late Mogla Pramanik of Baithavanga village, Gabtali, Majedur Rahman Pintu, son of late Mojahar Ali Pramanik (present in court), and Ashiq Hasan Ashiq, son of Bishu Akand, were sentenced to life term and fined Life Tk 1 lakh each. In default, they will have to spend six more months in jail. Majedur Rahman Pintu and Ashiq Hasan Ashiq were also sentenced to one year imprisonment and fined Tk 1 lakh under a separate section, with a default term of two months each.
Shafayat Hossain Pappu, son of Delwar Hossain Dulu, and Touhidul Islam Pallab alias Munna, who were minors at the time of the incident, are being tried in the juvenile court. Abdul Mannan Sakidar’s son Shanto Sakidar, 29, was acquitted of the murder due to a lack of evidence.
According to court sources and case dockets, Tojamal Haque Molla of Durgahata village, along with his younger brother Nayon Molla and nephew Asad attended a wedding ceremony at Matu Pramanik’s house in the same village on 27 November 2017.
On their return around 5:30 pm, the accused intercepted and attacked them with Chinese machetes, samurai swords, and iron rods over a previous enmity.
Asad managed to escape, but Tojamal Haque and Nayon were hacked and the attackers fled from the spot. Tojamal was declared dead at Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, while Nayon was admitted with serious injuries.
Tojamal’s brother Momin Molla filed a murder case with Gabtali Police Station on 28 November, naming ten individuals and implicating 14.
After investigation, Inspector Hafizur Rahman submitted the charge sheet in court on 21 December 2022, later supplemented by CID Inspector Shakir Uddin.
After nearly eight years of hearings and witness examination, the court gave the verdict today.
Public prosecutor Abdul Based said he was satisfied with the verdict. Among those sentenced to death or life imprisonment, only Majedur Rahman Pintu was present in court. The rest are absconding, and their sentences will be enforced upon arrest. Time spent in custody will be deducted from Pintu’s sentence. Defence lawyers expressed disappointment and said they would file an appeal to the higher court. Demanding immediate execution of the verdict, complainants said they feel insecure as the accused are still absconding.
