A court in Sunamganj has sentenced Jitesh Chandra Gop to death for murdering Shahnaz Parvin Jyotsna, the wife of an expatriate, inside a pharmacy in Jagannathpur and cutting her body into six pieces.
Alongside the death sentence, the court fined him Tk 100,000. He was also sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fined an additional Tk 50,000 for attempting to conceal the victim’s remains.
Sunamganj District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Habibullah delivered the verdict on Tuesday afternoon. Jitesh is the son of Jadav Chandra Gop and hails from Itna upazila in Kishoreganj district.
Murder Took Place in February 2022
According to the case records, Jitesh operated a pharmacy in a market in Jagannathpur upazila headquarters in Sunamganj. In February 2022, Shahnaz Parvin Jyotsna was murdered inside the pharmacy. Following the killing, her body was cut into six pieces, causing widespread shock in the local community.
The case subsequently proceeded through the judicial process, with the murder and the alleged attempt to conceal the victim’s remains considered as separate offences. After examining the case, the court handed down separate punishments for the two crimes.
The death sentence and the Tk 100,000 fine were imposed for the murder. For attempting to conceal the body, Jitesh received seven years of rigorous imprisonment and an additional fine of Tk 50,000.
High Court Approval Required
The court’s order stipulates that the death sentence must be referred to the High Court Division of the Supreme Court for confirmation before it can be carried out. The sentence cannot be executed without the required approval. The court also directed that Jitesh be kept in the designated prison cell while the necessary legal procedures are completed.
Under Bangladesh’s judicial system, a death sentence imposed by a lower court must be reviewed and confirmed by the High Court Division before execution. The verdict, therefore, does not mean that the punishment can be carried out immediately.
The ruling marks a significant stage in the judicial proceedings over the killing, which drew considerable attention because of the brutality of the crime. The next steps will depend on the prescribed legal process, including confirmation of the death sentence by the High Court Division.
