Revising the trial court verdict in 13-year-old Rakib killing case, the High Court yesterday commuted the death sentence of two convicts to life imprisonment for killing the Khulna boy by blowing air through his rectum back in 2015. The HC bench, however, imposed a fine of Tk 50,000 each on the two convicts -- Omar Sharif and Mintu Mia-- for killing the boy. They will have to serve two years more in jail in case of failing to pay the money to Rakib’s family, the verdict said. The HC bench comprising Justice Md Zahngir Hossain Selim and Justice Md Zahangir Hossain came up with the verdict after hearing the death reference and appeals of the convicts. In its observation, the HC bench said that the killing of Rakib was an atrocious incident, and that such type of incident did not take place in the past 100 years. The HC also said that soon after blowing air through Rakib’s rectum, the offenders tried to save his life and for this they took Rakib to hospital. The HC bench also observed that after examining all the documents and evidences the offenders no previous criminal record was found and no cases is pending against them. Considering the all aspect, the court commuted their death penalty to life imprisonment on humanitarian ground, according to the HC verdict. Deputy attorney general Zahirul Haque said that next course of action would be taken after discussion with the chief law officer on receiving the copy of the verdict.
Rakib’s father Nurul Alam Hawlader expressed dissatisfaction over the judgement and said that they would move to the Appellate Division against the verdict.
“Now they (the convicts) will go to the Appellate Division and get released,” said Rakib’s mother Lucky Begum, who fears that the convicts will take revenge on them. “My daughter is growing up, I am worried about her safety,” Lucky said adding, “They (killers) have been threatening us since the lower court verdict.”
On November 8 in 2015, a Khulna court handed down death penalty to Sharif and Mintu in the murder case. The convicts then filed separate appeals with the HC challenging their conviction handed down by the trial court. The death references of Rakib killing case reached the HC on November 10, 2015. Later, the condemned convicts filed appeals against the lower court order and Chief Justice SK Sinha asked the HC Division to prepare the paper-book of the case on priority basis. On 3 August 2015, Rakib's former employer Sharif and his uncle Mintu stripped the boy naked, inserted a high-pressure air pump nozzle into his rectum and filled the body with air. Rakib's intestines tore apart and lungs burst as air filled the abdomen, which left him dead. The killing incident sparked outrage all over the country.