A court in Chattogram has handed down life imprisonment sentences to nine men in a widely followed murder case involving the abduction and killing of a police informant in the city’s Bandar police jurisdiction. The verdict was pronounced on Tuesday (31 March) by Muhammad Ali Akkas, Judge of the Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court of Chattogram, bringing closure—at trial level—to a case that has spanned two decades.
The convicts are Rezaul Karim, Zainal Abedin, Abdullah, Md Selim, Abul Kashem, Salauddin, Md Solaiman, Rezaul Karim Reza, and Harun-or-Rashid. Alongside the life sentences, the court imposed monetary fines on each convict, underlining the gravity of the offence and its broader implications for public safety and law enforcement cooperation.
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Case origins and background
Court documents show that the incident occurred on 15 September 2005, when Noor Alam, also known locally as Bablu, was abducted from a road adjacent to the Co-operative Singapore Market in the Halishahar Chhoto Pool area under Bandar police station. The victim was reportedly known to police as a confidential informant, assisting authorities with intelligence related to criminal activity in the area.
His disappearance immediately raised alarm among family members and local residents. Within a day, police recovered his body, confirming that he had been killed shortly after being abducted. Following the discovery, his mother, Ayesha Akhtar Lucky, filed a murder case with Bandar police station, formally initiating criminal proceedings.
After an extended investigation, police submitted a charge sheet on 25 September 2006, implicating 16 individuals. The case then moved through years of trial proceedings involving witness testimony, documentary evidence, and cross-examination before the court ultimately reached its verdict.
Sentencing details
The court found nine of the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced each to life imprisonment. In addition, each convict was fined BDT 20,000, with a provision for a further six months’ imprisonment in default of payment.
| Name of convict | Sentence | Fine | Default penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rezaul Karim | Life imprisonment | BDT 20,000 | 6 months’ additional imprisonment |
| Zainal Abedin | Life imprisonment | BDT 20,000 | 6 months’ additional imprisonment |
| Abdullah | Life imprisonment | BDT 20,000 | 6 months’ additional imprisonment |
| Md Selim | Life imprisonment | BDT 20,000 | 6 months’ additional imprisonment |
| Abul Kashem | Life imprisonment | BDT 20,000 | 6 months’ additional imprisonment |
| Salauddin | Life imprisonment | BDT 20,000 | 6 months’ additional imprisonment |
| Md Solaiman | Life imprisonment | BDT 20,000 | 6 months’ additional imprisonment |
| Rezaul Karim Reza | Life imprisonment | BDT 20,000 | 6 months’ additional imprisonment |
| Harun-or-Rashid | Life imprisonment | BDT 20,000 | 6 months’ additional imprisonment |
Court officials confirmed that the verdict was based on corroborated witness testimony, investigative reports, and documentary evidence presented throughout the lengthy trial process. Prosecutors successfully argued that the abduction was premeditated and directly linked to the victim’s role as a police informant.
The court further observed that the killing reflected elements of organised criminal retaliation, aimed at deterring cooperation between civilians and law enforcement agencies.
Extended judicial timeline
The case highlights the prolonged nature of serious criminal trials in Bangladesh, particularly those involving multiple accused persons and complex chains of evidence. From the filing of the charge sheet in 2006 to the final judgment in 2026, the proceedings extended over nearly twenty years.
During the trial, the prosecution presented several witnesses, including the victim’s family members, investigating officers, and local residents who described the circumstances of the abduction and subsequent recovery of the body. The defence challenged the reliability of certain testimonies and argued that the evidence was insufficient to establish individual culpability.
However, the court concluded that the totality of the evidence met the legal threshold of proof beyond reasonable doubt for nine of the accused.
Legal and social significance
Legal analysts note that cases involving the killing of police informants are particularly sensitive, as such individuals play a crucial role in supporting criminal investigations. Attacks on informants are widely viewed as attempts to intimidate communities and obstruct law enforcement efforts in areas affected by organised crime.
The verdict is expected to reinforce judicial deterrence against such offences and underscore the seriousness with which the justice system treats crimes targeting individuals cooperating with police.
While the judgment concludes the trial stage, the convicted individuals retain the legal right to appeal before a higher court under existing provisions of law.