A court in Sunamganj has sentenced a 40-year-old man to life imprisonment for killing a woman with a hammer during a dispute over the sale of ancestral property in Dirai.
The convicted man, Md Azlu Mia, was also fined Tk10,000. If he fails to pay the fine, he will have to serve an additional two months in prison without labour.
The verdict was delivered on Sunday (27 September) by Muhammad Akbar Hossain, judge of the First Additional Sessions Court in Sunamganj.
The case concerns the death of Hamida Khanam, 60, who was also known as Munshi Mia. According to the case statement, the incident took place on 14 December 2015 in the Natun Bagbari area of Dirai municipality.
The prosecution case states that a dispute had developed within the family over the proposed sale of ancestral property at what relatives considered an unusually low price. Md Mofashir Ali, Hamida Khanam’s son-in-law, said the disagreement involved Azlu Mia and other members of the family.
On the evening of the incident, Azlu Mia allegedly entered the house and attacked Hamida Khanam and her four-year-old granddaughter, Ruma Akter Sima, with an iron hammer.
Hamida Khanam suffered repeated blows and died at the scene, according to the case details. The four-year-old child was also seriously injured in the attack.
Local residents subsequently intervened and detained Azlu Mia at the scene. They handed him over to the police along with the hammer, according to the case account. The injured child was rescued and taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for treatment.
A murder case was filed at Dirai Police Station on 15 December 2015, the day after the incident. The investigation and subsequent court proceedings continued for several years, with evidence and witness statements presented before the court.
After examining the evidence, the court found Azlu Mia guilty under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which deals with murder, and handed down the life sentence.
The case began with a family dispute over ancestral property but escalated into a fatal attack, leaving an elderly woman dead and a young child seriously injured. The court’s verdict brings the judicial proceedings against the convicted man to a significant stage after the lengthy investigation and trial.
The sentencing also records the court’s finding on the criminal responsibility of the accused based on the evidence presented during the proceedings. Any further legal steps in the case will follow the applicable judicial process.
The authorities had arrested Azlu Mia shortly after the incident, after local residents detained him and handed him over to police. The prosecution subsequently pursued the case through investigation, evidence collection and witness examination before the court.
With the verdict delivered, Azlu Mia has been sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Tk10,000 for the murder of Hamida Khanam. The additional two-month non-labour imprisonment will apply if the fine remains unpaid.
