A senior court in Netrokona has sentenced a man to death for the premeditated murder of a local businessman. The verdict was delivered on Thursday afternoon, 30 April 2026, by the Netrokona Senior District and Sessions Judge, Ms Maryam-Mun-Manjuri. The convict, Md Ratan Mia, 56, was found guilty of the homicide of Md Babul Mia, 40.
Alongside the capital sentence, the court imposed a financial penalty of 50,000 BDT on the convict. Ratan Mia, a resident of the West Chakpara area in Netrokona Sadar Upazila, was present in the courtroom to hear the judgment. Public Prosecutor (PP) Md Abul Hasan confirmed the ruling shortly after the session concluded.
Motive and Execution of the Crime
The victim, Md Babul Mia, was a resident of the Satpai Rail Crossing area in Netrokona town. According to court findings and local testimonies, the murder was rooted in a dispute involving allegations of an extramarital affair between Babul Mia and Ratan Mia’s wife.
The court heard that on the night of 28 September 2018, Ratan Mia devised a plan to lure Babul Mia to a secluded riverbank in the Kakuria Mashim Daspara area of Kalmakanda Upazila. There, he attacked the businessman with a machete, causing fatal injuries. In an attempt to hide the evidence, Ratan Mia concealed the body under a thicket of water hyacinths in the river.
The body was discovered the following morning by local residents, who alerted the police. Authorities subsequently moved the remains to the 250-bed District Sadar Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Judicial Process and Investigation
The legal proceedings were initiated following a complaint lodged by the victim’s brother, Md Shamim Mia, at Kalmakanda Police Station. The investigation led to the swift arrest of Ratan Mia, who later provided a voluntary confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, admitting his involvement in the crime before a magistrate.
Key elements of the trial included:
Witness Testimonies: A total of 17 witnesses testified, providing crucial evidence that linked the convict to the scene and the motive.
Confessional Integrity: The court observed that the defendant’s admission, combined with forensic evidence, established his guilt beyond any reasonable doubt.
Defence Appeal and Legal Framework
The convict was represented by legal counsel Md Anisur Rahman, who announced following the verdict that the defence intends to challenge the ruling in the higher courts.
Under the laws of Bangladesh, any death sentence passed by a sessions court is subject to a mandatory review by the High Court Division through a “death reference.” The execution of the sentence remains stayed pending this review and any subsequent appeals filed by the defence. For the time being, Ratan Mia remains in custody as the case moves toward the next stage of the appellate process.