5 sentenced to death over murder of Gopalganj labour union leader Basu
According to the case statement, on the night of 17 February 2016, Basu was attacked with sharp weapons and beaten by a group of assailants while returning home to Maulvipara from the Kuadanga Motor Workers’ Union office in Gopalganj.
A Dhaka court has sentenced five people to death in a case over the killing of Saidur Rahman Basu, former president of the Gopalganj Motor Workers' Union, who was murdered in 2016.
Judge Md Rafiqul Islam of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 delivered the verdict today (28 January), confirmed the plaintiff's lawyer SM Shariful Islam.
The court also handed down imprisonment until death to four other convicts and sentenced 11 more to life imprisonment in the same case.
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Those sentenced to death are Bulbul Sheikh, Hedayet Sheikh, Tofsir Sheikh, Jhontu Sheikh and Kibria Kazi. In addition to the death penalty, each of them has also been fined Tk10,000.
Those sentenced to imprisonment until death are Mintu Sheikh, Kenai Molla, Alimuzzaman Bitu and Prince Khan. Alongside the sentence, each has also been fined Tk10,000.
The convicts who received life imprisonment are Iqbal Khan, Tutul Sheikh, Roni Sheikh, Akram Ali, Habil Kazi, Bulgan Kazi, Sajib Sheikh, Panir Sheikh, Sihab Sheikh, Rashed Sheikh alias Rashed Khan and Shawkat Sheikh. Each of them has also been fined Tk10,000 in addition to the prison term.
According to the case statement, on the night of 17 February 2016, Basu was attacked with sharp weapons and beaten by a group of assailants while returning home to Maulvipara from the Kuadanga Motor Workers' Union office in Gopalganj. The attackers fled after leaving him critically injured. He later died the next day while undergoing treatment at Pangu Hospital in Dhaka.
Following the incident, Basu's younger brother Jasu Sheikh filed a case with Gopalganj Sadar Police Station on 19 February the same year.
On 12 July 2016, the investigation officer and sub-inspector of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station, Hazrat Ali, submitted a charge sheet against 23 accused. On 29 August 2017, Gopalganj District and Sessions Judge Md Dalil Uddin ordered the start of the trial by framing charges. Later, on 16 August 2018, the case was transferred to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 for trial and disposal.
