Three Sentenced to Life for Child’s Murder After Leaf Dispute

A court in Jamalpur has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for the murder of a seven-year-old boy in Sarishabari, following a dispute over collecting leaves from a jackfruit tree.

The court also handed each of the convicts an additional five-year prison term for concealing evidence related to the killing. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday afternoon by Mohammad Nezam Uddin, Additional District and Sessions Judge of Jamalpur.

The convicted men are Abul Kashem, Mukaddes and Swapan, all residents of the Maguriapara area of Sarishabari.

According to Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Didarul Islam Didar, the incident dates back to 3 September 2011. A dispute reportedly broke out between the accused and a woman, identified as Sabujah Begum, over the collection of leaves from a jackfruit tree. The disagreement escalated into an altercation, during which Sabujah Begum was allegedly assaulted.

Her brother-in-law, Babul Mia, reportedly intervened in an attempt to protect her and was also beaten. Following the incident, Babul Mia’s seven-year-old son, Suman, went missing.

The family searched for the child, but could not locate him. A general diary was subsequently filed with the police. Two days later, on the morning of 5 September, police recovered the boy’s body from the Jhinai River near Chaparkona Market.

The discovery turned the case into a murder investigation. Babul Mia, Suman’s father, subsequently filed a murder case naming five people as accused. After completing its investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against three individuals.

The case then proceeded through a lengthy judicial process. A total of 25 witnesses gave evidence during the trial, while the court examined the testimony and other materials presented before it. The three accused were present in court when the verdict was announced.

After nearly 15 years, the court found the three men guilty and sentenced each to life imprisonment for the murder. They were also given additional five-year sentences for concealing evidence connected with the crime.

The verdict brings an end to a prolonged legal process that began with the disappearance and subsequent death of the child in 2011. Suman’s family expressed satisfaction with the judgment, saying they had waited many years for justice.

The case had its origins in what was reportedly a dispute over a seemingly minor matter. But the confrontation ultimately resulted in the death of a child and triggered a criminal investigation and a long-running court case. The latest verdict has now brought the judicial proceedings to a close, subject to any legal remedies available to the convicted individuals.