Five Receive Life Terms for Student Killing

A court has sentenced five individuals to life imprisonment with rigorous labour in connection with the killing of student Imran Hossain in Manikganj Sadar upazila. Each convict has also been fined 20,000 taka, with an additional three months’ imprisonment stipulated in default of payment.

The verdict was delivered on Sunday (26 April) at approximately 3:30 pm by Judge Motasim Billah of the Additional District and Sessions Judge-1 Court, in the presence of the accused. The outcome was confirmed to the media by Additional Public Prosecutor Bulbul Ahmed Golap, representing the state.

The convicted individuals are Sakib Biswas, Kalam Molla, Abdullah Al Matin Babu, Bulbul Ahmed, and Golamur Rahman Selim. Among them, Bulbul Ahmed and Golamur Rahman Selim are currently absconding. In the same case, Nurul Bhuiya was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

According to court sources, the incident took place on the night of 14 May 2011. The day before the murder, Golamur Rahman Selim visited Imran’s residence and requested a mobile phone number from his sister. On the following night, at approximately 9:20 pm, Sakib Biswas and Bulbul Ahmed went to Imran’s home and called him outside. Subsequently, under Selim’s direction, Imran was taken to a bridge near Kalam Molla’s shop in Ramnagar village.

At that location, the accused carried out a premeditated attack using sharp weapons, striking Imran on the back of the head and on the crown. He sustained fatal injuries, and the perpetrators fled the scene immediately afterwards.

At the time of the incident, Saleha Islam, the female vice-chairman of the Sadar upazila, was passing nearby and noticed the body. She alerted local residents, who then transported Imran to a hospital. Attending physicians declared him dead upon arrival.

Investigations revealed that approximately six months prior to the incident, Imran had been involved in a dispute with neighbour Abdullah Al Matin Babu over a minor issue, which had led to a physical altercation. Although the matter was later resolved through a local arbitration process, investigators concluded that the earlier dispute formed the basis for the planned killing.

Following the incident, Imran’s father, Mohammad Habibur Rahman Master, filed a murder case at Manikganj Sadar Police Station on 15 May 2011. After an extended judicial process, the court reached its verdict upon examining testimony from 26 witnesses.

A summary of key case details is provided below:

The ruling concludes a prolonged legal process, with the court basing its decision on documented evidence and witness testimony presented during the trial.