A Dhaka court on Sunday sentenced two people to death for killing a young man during a mugging in the capital’s Kalyanpur area 21 years ago.
The convicts are Md Sohel Rana, alias Kalu, and Md Nazim Uddin, alias Noju.
Judge Mosaddek Minhaz of Dhaka’s Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court-4 delivered the verdict in the absence of the convicts.
The court also fined each convict Tk50,000.
Additional Public Prosecutor Md Khalilur Rahman said the court issued arrest warrants along with warrants of conviction against the convicts.
According to the judgment, the convicts were habitual offenders who faced multiple cases involving illegal arms, explosives, and narcotics.
On 22 June 2005, the victim, Shafiqul Alam, alias Shafik, arrived at Kalyanpur bus terminal from Bogura in the morning and was heading to a friend’s house. When he reached the area in front of Asia Cinema Hall, three muggers intercepted him.
They forcibly took his cash and mobile phone before repeatedly stabbing him, leaving him critically injured. He later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Following the incident, the victim’s father, Md Akbar Ali, filed a murder case with Mirpur Model Police Station. Police later arrested Sohel Rana, who confessed to the killing before a magistrate. However, he fled after being released on bail.
On 5 April 2006, police submitted a charge sheet against the accused.
The court framed charges on 23 September that year, and the trial subsequently began.
Fourteen prosecution witnesses testified during the trial.
