A tribunal in the capital yesterday sentenced four people to death, one person to life imprisonment and nine others to 10 years’ imprisonment for killing two siblings in Madaripur in 2003, reports UNB. The condemned convicts are Muhiuddin Hawlader, Sohagh Hawlader, Habi Hawlader and Halim Hawlader. The former three were tried in absentia. The lifer is Shamsul Haque Hawlader. The court also fined him Tk 50,000, in default, to suffer one year more in prison.
Those who got 10 years in prison are Hiru Sarder, Rafique Hawlader, Kaiyum Shikder, Jahangir Shikder, Tutul Hawlader, Mostafa Hawlader, Zinnat Khan, Idris Sheikh and Sekandar Sheikh. The court also fined them Tk 30,000 each, in default, to serve six months’ imprisonment more.  According to the prosecution, the convicts opened fire on the supporters of chairman candidate in UP election Sirajul Haque Mollah after Eid-ul-Azha prayers at Paschim Sharmangal village in Rajoir upazila on February 12, 2003, which left Syed Ali Mollah and Soleman Mollah dead and 34 people injured. A case was filed with the Rajoir Police Station in this connection. Police submitted charge sheet against 28 people on 30 August, 2003. The trial started on October 11, 2005. After examining the records and 28 witnesses, judge of the Speedy Trial Tribunal- 1 Shahed-Nur-Uddin handed down the verdict acquitting 14 accused as charges brought against them could not be proved.