Death for Nur, Tareque Sayeed, 24 others
9 others jailed for different terms as Nganj court delivers verdict in sensational 7-murder case
Habibullah Mizan
Awami League leader and former NCC councilor Nur Hossain, three former RAB officers, including sacked commanding officer of RAB-11 Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad, and 22 others were sentenced to death yesterday in the sensational Narayanganj seven-murder case.
The district and sessions judge of Narayanganj, Syed Enayet Hossain, also sentenced nine others to various jail terms -- between seven and 10 years -- for abduction and killing of the then Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) panel mayor Nazrul Islam, senior lawyer Chandan Sarker and five others in April 2014.
Of the total 35 convicts, 25 are the former members of RAB-11 and conviction of such a large number of ex-members of RAB is an unprecedented incident in the countrys history. Also, this is the second highest number of death sentences in a case after the BDR mutiny case that witnessed the capital punishment for about 300 members of the paramilitary force.
Of the 25 convicted former RAB members, 16 were awarded death penalty. They are sacked commanding officer of RAB-11 Tareque Sayeed Mahmud, also a son-in-law of minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Maj Arif Hossain and Lt Commander M Masud Rana, corporal Mukhlesur Rahman, sepoy Mohiuddin Munshi, Lans Nayek Hira Miah, Sipahi Abu Tayeb, sepoy Asaduzzaman Nur, sub-inspector Purnendu Bala, ROG Arif Hossain, sepoys Al Amin and Tajul Islam, sergeant Enamul Kabir, lance nayek Belal Hossain, constable Shihab Uddin and havilder Emdadul Haque.
Apart from the 16 former RAB members and former NCC councilor Nur Hossain, nine people were awarded death penalty. They are Mizanur Rahman Bipu, Selim, Mortaza Zaman Charchil, Ali Ahmed, Abul Bashar, Rohom Ali, Sana Ullah, Shajahan and Jaml Uddin.
Another nine RAB officials were awarded jail terms. Of them, constable Habibur Rahman was sentenced to 17 years. SIs Abul Kalam Azad and Kamal Hossain, constable Babul Hasan, corporal Mokhlesur Rahamn, corporal Ruhul Amin and sepoy Nuruzzaman got 10 years of imprisonment each while ASI Bajlur Rahamn and Habildar Nasir Uddin was jailed for seven years.
A large number of police and other law enforcement agency personnel were deployed in different parts of Narayanganj district to avert any untoward incident following the announcement of the verdict.
From the morning, the district police put up barricades at all entry points of the court premises. They set up archways, metal detectors and vehicle-scanning devices. Till 9am, police barred the entry of all except judges and court staff. Later, media persons were allowed to enter the courtroom after being frisked shortly before the judge started reading out the verdict.
No bags were allowed inside the courtroom. Before the verdict was read out,the accused were brought from Narayanganj Jail and Kashimpur Central Jail under massive security.
Before and after the verdict, the prime accused, Nur Hossain, was calm. He was seen talking to the other convicts. But Lt Col Tareque Sayeed began crying after hearing the verdict. At one stage, Nur spoke to the former RAB-11 commanding officer.
After Nur was brought in a prison van, some journalists tried to get his reaction. At one stage, Nur said: I was victimised and used in the case.
Later, Nur pleaded to be left alone with folded hands. However, he was seen smiling when he was being brought out from the court room.
Some of Nurs associates, who were also given the death penalty, became angry with journalists when they were taking pictures of the sentenced convicts. One of them tried to throw a shoe at the journalists, saying they were sentenced because of adverse reports in the media. They exchanged harsh words with the journalists.
Some lawyers and local people brought out a procession hailing the verdict. They chanted slogans against the killers and demanded immediate implementation of the verdict.
Advocate Shakhwat Hossain, lawyer Nazrul Islam, said: Were happy with the verdict, but itd have been better if all 35 accused were given the death penalty.
On April 27, 2014, Narayanganj City Corporation councillor Nazrul Islam, a local Awami League leader, and his three aides and driver were kidnapped, allegedly by a team of RAB-11 from Narayanganj.
The RAB team also kidnapped senior lawyer Chandan Sarker and his driver, Ibrahim, as they witnessed the abduction of Nazrul and his associates. After three days, all the seven bodies were found floating in the Shitalakkhya river.
Two cases were filed in this connection -- one by Nazruls family and the other by Chandans family.
Later, Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad, Maj. Arif Hossain and Lt Commander SM Masud Rana were sacked by the RAB for their alleged involvement in the abduction and killings.
The family and relatives of Nazrul Islam claimed that Nur Hossain, another councillor, had paid Tk. 6 crore to senior officers of the local RAB unit to carry out the murders. Nur fled immediately after the killings, but was detained in Kolkata, India, and brought back to Bangladesh 17 months later.
