A court yesterday convicted five people, including a local BNP leader, and sentenced them to life term imprisonment for killing a man in Jhikargachha upazila of Jessore in 1997. The convicts are-Amir Hossain, BNP president of Nirbash Khola union unit, Tarikul Islam, son of Rajeb Ali, Sadek Ali, son of Karim Box Moral of Balla village, Shamsul, son of Ali Majhi of Kayemkhola village in Manirampur upazila and Ismail Hossain, son of Iman Ali of Rudrapur village in Sadar upazila. The court also fined them Tk 20,000 each, in default, they will have to suffer 2 years more rigorous imprisonment.
According to prosecution, Sirajul Islam, a resident of Sadipur village, was stabbed and shot dead by the convicts during an arbitration at the village on January 12 in 1997. Later, victim’s brother Jahidul Islam filed a murder case with Jhikargachha Police Station on May 2, 998 against seven named people and 7/8 unnamed people. Sub-Inspector Aslam Khan, also investigation officer of the case, submitted chargesheet against 15 people. After examining all the records and witnesses, Judge of District Special Judge Court Nitai Chandra Saha handed down the verdict acquitting eight accused.